Ruling Elder John O. Kinnaird of Bethany OPC, Oxford, PA was tried and convicted on the charge of "teaching a doctrine of justification by faith and works, contrary to the Word of God and the Westminster Standards." The censure determined by the court for Mr. Kinnaird, by unanimous vote, is "indefinite suspension from office".

The Presbytery of Philadelphia, Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), heard Elder Kinnaird's appeal on February 22, 2003 and voted to uphold the lower court's verdict. The denial of the appeal was by voice vote, with Dr. Richard Gaffin and several others requesting their vote overturn Elder Kinnaird's conviction be recorded in the minutes. The case is now expected to be appealed to the General Assembly of the OPC, meeting June 25th through July 2nd, 2003, in Sioux Center, Iowa.