Synod 2011 of the Christian Reformed Church is meeting in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The assembly gathered on June 10 and will run through June 16. Each of the CRC’s 47 classes (regional groups of churches) will send two ministers and two elders as representatives. So far, two significant actions have come to the floor Homosexuality... Continue Reading

The net result of this was that the coalition of the right and center wings of the church was reestablished, and this right/center majority “ran the table.” That is to say, it did not lose a single vote of any ideological consequence. In retrospect, it is now clear that the influx of ministers trained at... Continue Reading

On the last day of the 39th PCA General Assembly it considered a number of overtures that had been referred to the Overtures Committee. This is a ‘Super’ Committee of Commissioners with two representatives from each Presbytery, one Teaching Elder and one Ruling Elder, eligible to serve. Overture 2 was answered in the negative. This... Continue Reading

The PCA General Assembly for 2011 received an overture from Potomac Presbytery concerning a problem with translations of the bible into languages used primarily in the Muslim world It seems a number of groups are making translations that do not use the terms ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ when referring to the first and second persons of... Continue Reading

One recommendation from that report was to consider ending its relationship with the Presbyterian Council for Chaplains and Military Personnel (PCCMP) as an endorsement agency and seek endorsement from the Presbyterian and Reformed Joint Commission on Chaplains and Military Personnel (PRJC). The day began with a wonderful sermon preached by the Rev. Paul Patrick, campus... Continue Reading

Just after 9:30PM on Thursday evening, the Committee of Commissioners (CoC) on Administration took the floor to present a lengthy report (with 26 recommendations). The chairman began by seeking to move 25 of the motions (other than budgets) as an omnibus motion, which means lump them together for one vote to approve. Since only 5... Continue Reading

Jamison Godwin, 3-year-old son of TE Jeff Godwin, pastor of Northside PCA in Melbourne, Fla., almost drowned in a hotel pool in Virginia Beach on Thursday, June 9. Godwin brought his family with him to the PCA General Assembly. Friday 5:00PM update: We are pleased to report that 3-year-old Jamison Godwin was released from the... Continue Reading

General Synod 2011 began this morning with a wonderful sermon by Rev. Kyle Sims from 1 Corinthians 1. Rev. Sims challenged pastors to make prayer a priority, to pray after the sermon (i.e., to pray on Sunday afternoon for the work of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the word), to pray for the... Continue Reading

At the 16th General Assembly a study committee report on the topic of Paedocommunion was approved, deciding that the position of the denomination was and should remain to be that only those of the appropriate age to make a profession of faith were to receive the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper and directed and officers... Continue Reading

For many years, the Review of Presbytery Records Committee took so much time to complete their work after gather on the Monday before GA started, they were traditionally the last report of the week, generally on Friday mornings. However, this committee now meets a month prior to Assembly and their report is already complete and... Continue Reading