Worship, Polity, & the PCA
The state of worship in the Presbyterian Church in America is arguably better than it has ever been, at least as far as liturgy goes.
All is not well in the way worship is conducted in the PCA. Even as observance of the Lord’s Supper becomes more frequent in our churches, it seems that errors in its conduct multiply. These include the bizarre and biblically-unfounded practice of intinction (where the bread is dipped in wine and the two actions of... Continue Reading
Comparing Overture 15’s Dissenters to Presbytery Votes
Comparing the votes in presbyteries on the Overture 15 amendment with the votes of GA commissioners who recorded their negative votes.
To date (January 25, 2023), 51 presbyteries have voted on Overture 15, with 30 voting to pass and 21 voting not to pass, under the two-thirds threshold to bring the amendment to the floor of the 50th General Assembly. Overture 15 has passed in 81 percent of the presbyteries without a dissenting commissioner (17-4), while... Continue Reading
Support of Overture 15: Amending the PCA’s Book of Church Order on Qualifications for Church Office
The most basic, fundamental biblical qualification for the offices of both elder and deacon is that a man must be found blameless.
We do no favors to the members of our churches, nor to those men themselves who are entangled in the sin of homosexuality, when we allow such men to be ordained to office in the church, contrary to our Lord’s appointment. It behooves us, then, for the sake of everyone involved, for the purity and... Continue Reading
Overture 29 Points to the Need for Overture 15
How can Overture 29 deal with the Side B problem in the PCA, if our Confession and BCO have not?
What is missing from our Confession therefore isn’t something in Overture 29, but something that neither the Westminster Divines nor the founders of the PCA could have conceived of, namely the adoption of a homosexual self-conception. We would be good to remember that Former PCA Pastor Greg Johnson objected to Article 7 of the Nashville... Continue Reading
PCA Members Should Speak Out on Overture 15
I believe the failure of the PCA to include the language of Overture 15 in the BCO will be harmful to the peace and purity of the PCA.
One action our denomination can take now is by making it clear to the world, our presbyteries, and our churches through Overture 15 that men who define themselves as homosexual cannot be elders in our denomination. Perhaps even more important is that we make this strong statement to our members, church courts, the world,... Continue Reading
Yes, Pastor Weidenaar, It Is Ontology With Regard to Overture 15
Overture 15, being voted on by PCA presbyteries, is needed at this point in the history of the Church to provide clarity on biblical sexual ethics.
Culture and even the church, has been influenced (propagandized) through television, music, films, and public education by claiming that homosexuality is not sin and should be accepted. It’s now just another legitimate choice. Not only is it possible, but it is entirely likely, that candidates for church office may not even consider their views to... Continue Reading
Three Reasons to Adopt PCAGA49’s Overture 15
Here are three reasons why it is wise and necessary for the PCA to adopt Overture 15.
The language of the Overture does not say that a man must no longer struggle with temptation or that he must be dishonest about his temptations. It states that officers may not “describe themselves as homosexual.” This is consistent with Paul’s affirmations that Christians are new creations, are to be unleavened, and are to consider... Continue Reading
Does the PCA Ordain Homosexuals? Well, “Yes, But” or “No, But”
The addition of Overture 15 is (1) appropriate (2) needed; (3) addresses an unavoidable issue; and (4) failing to approve it will perpetuate one problem and create another.
When asked, “Does the PCA ordain homosexuals?” we cannot say, “We can neither confirm nor deny that the PCA ordains homosexuals.” We must either say, “Yes, the PCA ordains homosexuals, but men must claim celibacy from homosexual conduct in order to ordained,” or we will say, “No, but there may be men who count that... Continue Reading
Against Overture 8: Do Not Amend BCO 33-1 and 34-1 As Proposed
Overture 8 proposes amending BCO 33-1 and 34-1. Both of these paragraphs concern the jurisdiction of church courts in matters of church discipline.
Raising the threshold for assumption of original jurisdiction from 2 (2) Presbyteries to 10% of Presbyteries has the potential both to prevent and to pervert justice in church courts. By raising the threshold to 10%, nine (9) Presbyteries would have to request assumption of original jurisdiction. This represents a five-fold increase, and it makes BCO... Continue Reading
Reasons for PCA Presbyteries to Vote Against Amending BCO 15 Regarding Commissions
Item 3 (Overture 25) would amend BCO 15 to allow judicial commissions to conclude cases without presbyteries having to vote to approve or not approve commission recommendations.
In summary, these changes would make the PCA a less “grassroots Presbyterian” denomination. They would have the effect of making Presbyteries weaker—weaker in comparison to the General Assembly and weaker in relation to their own judicial commissions. They would concentrate power at “the top” of our denomination, and place important powers of presbytery into the... Continue Reading
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