Ref21 Editors’ Note: The Presbyterian Church in America’s 42nd General Assembly will address the work of the Study Committee on Insider Movements (SCIM). For access to the SCIM reports of 2014, click here. However, given the global relevance of this question, in the next several weeks ahead of the Assembly, Rev. Nelson Jennings and Rev. David... Continue Reading

On the one hand, this overture seems to be asking for the General Assembly to erect a study committee to determine if believing that Scripture allows for women to be ordained to the office of elder is an allowable exception to our constitution for ministers in our denomination. This is actually a very important question... Continue Reading

As an aid to Commissioners to the 2014 General Assembly of the PCA regarding the Study Committee on Insider Movements, the authors of the 2014 Minority Report entitled, “Realities on the Ground, An Additional Perspective,” present the following FAQs. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America will be meeting June 17-20, 2014 in... Continue Reading

We have highlighted four of the more significant issues that will be considered at this GA: The Overtures on the Standing Judicial Commission, The Role of Women in Church Offices, Erroneous Views of Creation, and The Insider Movement. Also assembled is a panel of four men to guide discussions on these issues.   The 42nd... Continue Reading

The PCA Historical Center is sponsoring its first Conference on Presbyterian History at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America. The PCA GA is meeting in Houston, Texas, June 17-20, 2014. This year’s Conference will consist of two panels: Panel #1 will offer a wide-ranging coverage of American Presbyterian history. The second panel... Continue Reading

I suspect that this overture will pass without much debate. This is a very important issue with very practical implications for our everyday life in the church. The prevalence of child sexual abuse may be shocking to some. The sin and effects of child sexual abuse often go unseen, unreported, or unacknowledged. The prevalence of... Continue Reading

The purpose of this communication is to assist you in pastoral counseling of members of your congregations who are in or considering military service. While our sons and daughters are to be commended for their desire to serve God in the uniformed services (Luke 3:14), we believe it is imperative to counsel them of the... Continue Reading

The Study Committee is recommending the following: 1. That “A Call to Faithful Witness, Part Two: Theology, Gospel Missions, and Insider Movements” serve as a Partial Report (Part Two of Two Parts). And 2. That the 42nd General Assembly make available and recommend for study “A Call to Faithful Witness, Part Two: Theology, Gospel Missions,... Continue Reading

Philadelphia Presbytery overtures 42nd GA to establish a study committee in order to clarify and define the general principles of biblical polity referenced in the third ordination vow (BCO 21-5, 3rd Vow), and their application to gender and the office of elder, and to evaluate whether or not the constitution should be amended….   At... Continue Reading

One overture proposes amendments to the Rules of Assembly Operation (RAO) 17-1, seeking to clarify the meaning of the review authority of the Committee on Constitutional Business (CCB) of cases decided by the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC). The second overture proposes amendments to the Book of Church Order (BCO) 15-3, which would allow the General... Continue Reading