Thoughts on the ARP Special Committee on Women Deacons Study
What I would propose, therefore, is that our currently ordained deaconesses be “grandmothered” in and that we stop ordaining deaconesses as of January 2025.
I realize that this compromise solution will not satisfy those who honestly believe that the Bible teaches that women should be ordained to the office of deacon, nor will it satisfy those who believe that keeping existing female deacons in their office is a scandal, but it is simply impossible to propose a solution to... Continue Reading
Final Tally From PCA Presbyteries on Overture 15
The data, in my opinion, reveals two competing opinions within the PCA on whether the sexuality issue among ordained officers has been resolved.
O15 was one of three overtures presbyteries considered in 2022-23 on the topic of sexuality. Overture 29 (O29) and Overture 31 (O31) passed in a supermajority of presbyteries and will come to the floor of GA this summer, where a simple majority vote of commissioners will amend the BCO with their language. Two sexuality overtures—Overture... Continue Reading
PCA Post-Memphis: Revive or Divide?
Soon, Commissioners will be heading to Memphis for the Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) 50th General Assembly, its Golden Jubilee.
As a denomination, we need to worry exclusively about the second fear outlined in the preamble to the Report and commit ourselves to being a bold witness in the Apostolic model. That means no nuance, no hand wringing, and no compromise. Our BCO needs to include a standard for our officers that is a clear... Continue Reading
The PCA—Tent or House?
The PCA at 50 ought to remember that she is a house, blessed and bounded by biblical standards.
The tent image might suggest roominess, but the big tents most of us encounter these days contain circus clowns or maybe, far beyond, the cities and Starbucked suburbs, sweaty revival preachers, but maybe we repeat ourselves. Much better (and more biblical) is the image of a house. Houses have doors that can be opened wide... Continue Reading
First Annual Pre-PCA General Assembly Outreach and Evangelism Event
Individual commissioners and guests at the PCA General are invited to an outreach and evangelistic event on Tuesday, June 13, from 5-6 pm, along Memphis’ Beale Street.
You may not have done much Outreach & Evangelism. You may have gotten out of the habit. You may even feel a little intimidated by the prospect. Do not despair. This event will pair you and others with seasoned leaders to go out for an hour to act on the Great Commission in Memphis, Tennessee.... Continue Reading
Schools in the Presbyterian Church in America
Of the 1,669 churches reporting data, only about nine percent (150) report having an education ministry affiliated with their church.
With respect to membership, PCA churches with schools are significantly larger. The average PCA church has 230 members on its rolls on average. Churches with schools average 630 members, while those without average 190. They have both more communicant members (500 vs. 148) and non-communicant members (131 vs. 41). Among many of the Overtures... Continue Reading
Ridge Haven 2.0: Cameron Anderson Appointed to Head the PCA’s Ridge Haven Conference Center
Cameron Anderson appointed as the Executive Director of Ridge Haven Camp, Conference And Retreat Center.
Cameron’s ties to Ridge Haven were always a given, having been enlisted as a high schooler to help with everything from food service to housekeeping, starting the summer of 2009 when his dad Wallace was hired as executive director. What wasn’t a given was his love for the camp, which has grown from serving about... Continue Reading
Targeting Transgenderism: Two Overtures to the PCA 50th GA
Transgenderism has just recently replaced racism as the great sin of the modern day.
In my opinion, the BCO is not the main issue. The issue is not simply women in the pulpit, nor the sexual mutilation of children, nor even the legitimacy of homosexuality (in some form or another). The issue is transgenderism. The issue is men and women giving in to sinful impulses that cross the lines... Continue Reading
An Overture on Titles & Ordination
In the 1990s there was some controversy in a presbytery or two where churches used the title “minister” for unordained persons.
Some in the PCA are not content to contextualize their presentation, liturgy, or worship — they also feel the need to contextualize polity for an egalitarian cultural mindset that has no patience for the biblical doctrines of office and ordination that are found in our BCO. Their ecclesial innovation can only harm the peace and... Continue Reading
G.I. Williamson, 97, Called Home to Glory
Rev. Williamson served almost 71 years as a minister of the gospel in Reformed churches in the U.S. and New Zealand, 47 of which were in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
He was converted after the war while a professional saxophone player, attended Hope College, graduated from Drake University and Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary, where he was blessed by the teaching of Dr. John Gerstner, was ordained in the United Presbytery Church of North America on June 1, 1952, and served almost 71 years as a minister... Continue Reading
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