Pre-PCA General Assembly Outreach and Evangelism Event
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.
In beginning a conversation, I have found a few things helpful to open up and keep myself on tract. Imagine walking up to a stranger in Memphis seeking to begin with openness and honesty, saying something like: “Hi, my name is Jonas, I am a Presbyterian pastor from Georgia and I’m here in Memphis for... Continue Reading
An Overture Before the PCA General Assembly: Toward Better Protection
Overture 6 before the PCA General Assembly is a small step in properly shepherding and protecting the sheep.
In thoughtful consideration for the safety of children, many churches in the PCA already perform background checks on individuals who help directly or tangentially with children’s ministries. Background checks help validate the qualification of every believer to “keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable,” (1 Pet. 2:12). The wisdom of the practice applies even more... Continue Reading
The Author’s Rationale for Overture 9 Being Considered by the 50th PCA General Assembly
Issues related to human sexuality have become points of great debate in the PCA over the past five years.
In light of our current crossroads as a denomination, I pray that we will be found faithful to uphold the faith once delivered, to realize the shoulders of the many faithful men who have gone before us and upon which we stand, and to not shy away from where the battle is most fierce but... Continue Reading
A Philosopher’s Guide to the Overtures Presented to the PCA General Assembly
Frank assessments of the overtures being considered by the 50th PCA General Assembly in Memphis, June 12-16, 2023.
In what follows, I take a different approach. I give my frank assessment of the overtures in the hopes that, even if you disagree with me, you can better formulate reasons for why you do so. I also, at times, offer an analysis of different issues surrounding the overtures. This approach will, I hope, be... Continue Reading
The PCA at Fifty: A General Assembly Preview
Will the Fiftieth General Assembly be decisive for whether the PCA will be a "big tent" or the house of the living God?
There are indeed many reasons to continue to be hopeful, optimistic, and engaged in the work of the PCA courts. The PCA continues to move slowly but steadily in a direction that reflects greater faithfulness and integrity regarding our confessional commitments and Reformed distinctives. The PCA turns a half century this year, and the... Continue Reading
A Plea to Keep Lawyers in Ecclesiastical Proceedings: Against PCA Overtures 10 and 14
Urging the PCA General Assembly not to approve Overtures 10 and 14 seeking to limit lawyers from representing parties in ecclesiastical proceedings.
These overtures have the outrageous practical effect of chilling the participation in ecclesiastical proceedings of PCA officers who happen to be lawyers, serving the very courts in which they are members and in the very type of matters for which they are specially gifted and trained. This proposal is not only prejudicial to such brothers,... Continue Reading
PCA Officers & Their Pronouns
Dozens of congregations of the PCA) communicate to the church and to the world that ordination is not essential to the holding of church office or to bearing the titles thereof.
Wittingly or unwittingly, this alternative practice creates a new quasi-office or serves as a sort of “ecclesial disobedience” protest against the existing BCO provisions. The effect of not ordaining deacons (if allowed) will, in effect, change the meaning and undermine the authority of the BCO by ignoring or contravening it rather than using the difficult... Continue Reading
Second Thoughts About the Proposed Witness Overtures
Reasons for not approving the two proposed overtures before the PCA General Assembly seeking to amend BCO 35-1 regarding who can serve as a witness in ecclesiastical cases.
Ecclesiastical cases are fundamentally intramural proceedings brought in and for the church. The proposed changes seek to expand the jurisdiction of our ecclesiastical courts into an area that, under the framework of our historic polity, has been the province of the civil magistrate. Expanding the jurisdiction of our ecclesiastical courts by accepting unbelievers as witnesses... Continue Reading
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
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