“The Stated Clerk of the PCA is presently serving as the Chairman of the NAE Board of Directors and Executive Committee and an ex officio member of the Board of World Relief…the PCA has contacts with other evangelical Christian denominations, organizations, individuals, and ministries, shares in the mercy ministries of the World Relief Commission, participates in world evangelization, and has a greater voice and influence in civic engagement through the NAE…” (Extract from Permanent Committee)

At the meeting of the Committee of Commissioners of Interchurch Relations, one of the major issues before it was the response to an overture from the 39th General Assembly from Central Carolina Presbytery recommending that the PCA withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals.  Last year the Assembly voted to return the Overture to the Permanent Committee on Interchurch Relations and to report back to the 40th General Assembly.

That report is recommending that Overture 12 from 2011 be answered in the negative and that the PCA remain a member of the NAE, and gives (in part) the following reasoning (these extracts have been grouped by the Aquila Report):

A.  Historically:  Presbyterian and Reformed evangelicals were instrumental in the formation of the NAE in 1942 and have had various leadership roles in the NAE throughout its history. In the early 12 years of the PCA, it was through the NAE Chaplains Commission that our military chaplains were endorsed. Throughout the years PCA churches have been major contributors to NAE’s World Relief Commission.

B.  Currently:  The Stated Clerk of the PCA is presently serving as the Chairman of the NAE Board of Directors and Executive Committee and an ex officio member of the Board of World Relief.  Through its participation in the NAE the PCA has contacts with other evangelical Christian denominations, organizations, individuals, and ministries, shares in the mercy ministries of the World Relief Commission, participates in world evangelization, and has a greater voice and influence in civic engagement through the NAE Office of Governmental Affairs in Washington D.C.

C.  Theologically:  The PCA is part of the NAE because it is consistent with our doctrine of the Church, it enables us to have a wider ministry, and it enables us to have a broader, more effective influence.  We believe that “the catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one under Christ, the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, and the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” (Westminster Confession of Faith XXV-1).

We do not believe that Presbyterian-Reformed believers are the only Christians or that the PCA is the only legitimate expression of the Church. (“This scriptural doctrine of Presbytery is necessary for the perfection of the order of the visible Church, but is not essential to its existence” Book of Church Order, 1-7). Fellowship and cooperation with other evangelical Christians is consistent with our theology.  The NAE is not a denomination, a Synod or Council; it is an association of evangelical denominations, local churches, institutions, organizations, ministries, and individuals.

D.  Responses to specific charges in the original overture concerning positions:

1.  The NAE’s official position on Creation Care is what is stated in the Health of the Nation document, not what it is depicted as being by critics of the NAE.

2.  The doctrinal statement of the NAE is deliberately broad enough to include evangelicals from several doctrinal positions. The NAE doctrinal statement is widely used among evangelicals as a basis for fellowship and cooperation. Several of the organizations with whom MTW cooperates use the NAE statement. Several of the approved exhibitors at the PCA General Assembly use the NAE doctrinal statement. The PCA’s membership in the NAE does not diminish the PCA’s commitment to the Westminster Standards

3.  By history and conviction, the PCA considers it valuable to maintain membership and connections with organizations whose membership is not limited merely to denominations. We were instrumental in the formation of the WRF, a member of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), have had relations with the NAE since our founding, and have been a member of the NAE for well over half our history. We affirm the NAE, by virtue of being a collection of churches, provides a significant platform to speak in the public square while we also deny that the NAE may bind the conscience of the General Assembly.

During the debate on the motion, one of the commissioners made an amending motion to the permanent committee’s recommendation which asked the Assembly to direct the permanent committee “to be alert for and report to the General Assembly any action or position taken by the NAE.”

When the additional language was approved, the final vote was taken and the recommendation to answer Overture 2011-12 in the negative (i.e, remain in the NAE); Approve 23, not approve 12.

@Copyright 2012 The Aquila Report – all rights reserved