Does Polity Trump Theology on the PCA Standing Judicial Commission? Part Two
A continuing assessment of the PCA Standing Judicial Commission's decision in Case 2012-5, Hedman vs. Pacific Northwest Presbytery.
The fact of the matter is that any doctrine that is not upheld is worthless. It becomes a doctrine that we are not willing to practice and, therefore, a doctrine that we do not really believe. That is where the PCA is at this time in her history. By these judicial decisions that elevate church... Continue Reading
Didn’t We Just Do This? Recent PCA Proposals to Ordain Women to Church Office – Part 1
“The question of the role of women in the Church is not a new or unstudied issue….the proposed study committee is unlikely to break new ground or shed new insights” (37th GA, 2009).
One of the contentions of the CMC is that the PCA has a history of passivity and even resistance to discussing the role of women in the church. However, a review of recent history will attest to the fact that the PCA does not have a history of passivity in discussing the role of women... Continue Reading
PCA General Assembly Should Not Approve CMC’s Recommendation to Form A Study Committee on Women Serving in Ministry
The PCA Cooperative Ministries Committee’s recommendation to form a study committee on the issue of women serving in the ministry of the church should be rejected.
Moreover, what is being overlooked by the CMC and AC in this recommendation is that the “biblical basis, theology, history, nature, and authority of ordination,” “the biblical nature and function of the office of deacon,” and “the ordination or commissioning of deacons/deaconesses” have already been studied, explored and settled. Not only has this happened through... Continue Reading
The PCA and the Right Against Self-Incrimination: Against Overture 14 at the PCA General Assembly
Overture 14 seeks to change BCO 35-1 to read that "church officers under accusation with regards to doctrinal views shall be required to testify before the court."
At the 2015 General Assembly in Chattanooga, the PCA rejected an overture to require an accused officer to testify against himself. Doctrinal charges must be proved by public materials and sermons, rather than aggressive prosecution. At the GA in Mobile, however, Providence Presbytery has raised this same issue again through Overture 14, which seeks to... Continue Reading
A Presbytery PJC Ruling On A Same-Sex Marriage Policy In The PC(USA)
It is worth reiterating at this point that this decision is from a presbytery PJC and has limited application. If appealed and upheld it would gain authoritative status.
“This decision is reminiscent of the remedial cases regarding ordination standards and the various GAPJC rulings that there could be no categorical standards or explicit lists of essential tenants but each candidate must be considered on an individual basis. From a polity point of view this decision falls right in line with that.” I... Continue Reading
Erskine Seminary Faculty Asks Board to Separate the College and the Seminary
The faculty of the Erskine Theological Seminary voted unanimously to adopt two petitions requesting the board to act on separating the college and seminary, and adjusting salary and compensation.
The first petition was approved by the faculty on March 10, and was addressed to the members of the Erskine board as well as the Moderator of the General Synod of the ARP. It requests the board “to facilitate the separation of the college and the seminary as soon as possible.” The second petition was... Continue Reading
Interpreting and Applying the Law
There are two things that we need to keep in mind when applying the passages of the Old Testament which contain the Law of God: the three differentiations of the law and the three uses of the moral law.
These lessons about how to interpret and apply the Scriptures of the Old Testament help us in getting the most out of our reading and studying of Scripture. I’ve also found that these principles of interpretation – concerning the Law of God and Old Testament stories – are helpful when trying to clarify and explain... Continue Reading
Confessing Sin One Church Officer at a Time
A call for PCA members to confess their sin of racism by the book — that is, by the Book of Church Order.
I would like for this year’s PCA Assembly to answer all the related overtures [on the sin of racism] by sending them back to the courts from which they originated to be dealt with according to our rules of discipline. Fully a third of our BCO is devoted to how our courts should deal with... Continue Reading
Overtures Take Different Approaches on Race
These overtures will be considered by the Overtures Committee
“The overture also calls the PCA to lament the decades it took to address the issue and its failure to preach and embody the full truth of Scripture on race-related matters. It calls on church courts to include questions about how the Gospel addresses issues of race and integration in the examination of candidates for... Continue Reading
Overture To PCUSA Seeks To Extract Apology From Those Following Biblical Teachings On Sexuality
A Presbyterian Church (USA) presbytery is asking the 222nd General Assembly to apologize to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ/Q) community
The overture asks that the PCUSA affirm, confess and apologize for “the teachings and actions that have created marginalization of our sisters and brothers, adding to the erroneous belief that people who identify as LGBTQ/Q should be considered unworthy to serve fully or be honored as family within and without the church.” A Presbyterian... Continue Reading
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