This overture seeks to change the language of that third vow by replacing the clause “Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God” with the following: “Do you now acknowledge that God in his providence has placed this child within the covenant family, and entrusted (him/her) to your care….” The vow that follows remains... Continue Reading

Church officers are required to explain and defend their life and doctrine when seeking admission to serve under the jurisdiction of another court (e.g., BCO 13-6.). Church officers are required by their ordination vows to come forward and make known any way in which their views might have become out of accord with any of the fundamentals of our system of... Continue Reading

North Texas Presbytery (Overture 2) and Tennessee Valley Presbytery (Overture 9) have overtured the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly to establish a study committee to change the language in the Westminster Confession and Catechisms with regard to the idea of recreation on the Sabbath. A number of years ago, I was in a presbytery... Continue Reading

How did the right against self-incrimination become part of the BCO? As we will see, it was not because the PCA was influenced by civil protections, such as the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Instead, it was the contributions of our Reformed forefathers that helped shape the American religious and civil protections against self-incrimination we... Continue Reading

Insofar as a study committee is concerned, I have no objection to the idea. In fact, if the study committee does its job properly it would at least clarify the issue at the heart of this discussion. That issue is, “What do the Standards mean by ‘recreations’”? Most people probably think that the Standards mean... Continue Reading

However, this strikes me as being essentially the same rationale that provided the PCA with its current Standing Judicial Commission of the General Assembly. While that seemed good at the time, there has developed a great deal of discomfort with the way it has worked out in the long run. As a result, my own... Continue Reading

The General Assembly (GA) meets annually. This year it is meeting in Chattanooga, TN, June 9-12. Each year, various proposals, called overtures, come from presbyteries for the GA to consider and act on. Since the denomination is connectional, the decisions made by the GA are binding on the presbyteries and the churches. Some years, many... Continue Reading

The Evening of Confessional Concern and Prayer will meet in the Convention Center, Ballroom “H” from 7-9 P.M. It will be a time to share and listen to the conservative, confessional perspective on lingering or new issues within the PCA. There will be a time to pray together prior to the opening of the General... Continue Reading

The Stated Clerk’s Office of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) regularly reports ministry and pastoral transitions within the PCA. This report has the names of ministers who have moved in the latter part of 2014. These ministry changes are submitted by the Clerks of Presbyteries to the Stated Clerk’s office.   Ryan Baker, from... Continue Reading

One year, let’s call it the ‘A’ Year, would keep the current convention look. We would have vendors, we would have visitors, and we would have reports from our Committees and Agencies (and approve their budgets), and we would have large worship services open to the public….The next year (and from then on rotate) we have... Continue Reading