In 2024, PRCC endorsed 333 PRCC chaplains, and 170 chaplains and their wives attended the annual chaplain training held prior to the opening of the 51st General Assembly. Other MNA ministries like Ministry to State, and MNA’s ESL continue to grow and strengthen the church.

Tuesday evening

The Assembly elected Kevin DeYoung to serve as moderator of the 52nd General Assembly.

Teaching Elder Bryan Chapell gave a report to the Assembly. “I have sought to apologize to all that my comments have harmed, and I apologize to you, asking your forgiveness,” he said. He then pronounced a blessing on the denomination which he has called home for nearly 50 years.

Provisional Stated Clerk John Bise offered the Stated Clerk’s Report.

Stated Clerk’s Report

The numbers indicate that the PCA grew again in 2024, a cause for celebration at any time, but in an age of unquestionable church decline, it gives us cause for being grateful for the Lord’s blessing. The denomination must humbly pray, asking that God would make the PCA faithful stewards of these unique blessings, which cannot be explained or deserved.

BCO Amendments

The Assembly voted to ratify four BCO amendments that were first approved by the 51st General Assembly and then sent to the presbyteries for approval. Items 2 and 4 were ratified together. Items 1 and 3 were then ratified separately.

The Assembly heard a partial report from the Review of Presbytery Records. The Assembly voted to approve changes to the RAO as outlined in Recommendations 9, 10, and 11.

The Assembly heard a partial report from the Overtures Committee concerning overtures dealing with changes to the RAO (34 and 43). Neither Overture 34 nor Overture 43 received the required ⅔ of votes to amend the RAO, so both overtures failed.

The Assembly heard a partial report of the Standing Judicial Commission dealing with changes to RAO. The changes were approved.

The Assembly heard reports from the Committee on Constitutional Business and Theological Examining Committee. After those reports, the Assembly recessed to reconvene on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

Wednesday

The Assembly reconvened at 8:30 a.m. and heard the report from the Cooperative Ministries Committee and then the report from the Review of Presbytery Records. You can read about RPR’s work here.

After debates on several items pertaining to individual presbyteries, the report and recommendations from the Review of Presbytery Records were approved by the Assembly.

The Interchurch Relations Committee presented its report, introducing delegates from presbyterian denominations around the world. Representatives from the ARP, Korean American Presbyterian Church, Reformed Church of Quebec, and the RPCNA addressed the Assembly.

In the afternoon the Assembly heard reports and approved recommendations from the PCA Foundation, CDM, Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, Mission to North America, and Reformed University Fellowship.

PCA Foundation

During 2024 the PCA Foundation received $100.9 million in total gifts. It distributed, or granted to ministry, $71.7 16 million. Distributions to PCA churches totaled $23.2 million in 2024, while distributions to PCA committees and agencies exceeded $4 million, and distributions to other Christian ministries were $44.3 million. The PCA Foundation’s total assets were $407.4 million as of December 31, 2024, an increase of $150.6 million over the December 31, 2023.

The PCA Foundation continues to look for opportunities to work with PCA churches and members to increase giving to advance and reveal the Kingdom. The agency intends to continue and enhance resources to and for PCA churches, like its free Smart Giving Workshops and a planned giving website.

CDM

CDM provides opportunities for leaders in discipleship ministry to come together for training and encouragement. Since last summer, attendance at all events exceeded CDM’s expectations, as participants came from churches of all sizes around the denomination.

CDM also provided opportunities for leaders to develop in smaller groups with more focused training. The CDM Certification programs certified 30 students in the children’s ministry class and a small initial group in the student ministry certification program in 2024.  The Wives of Elders (WE) Ministry and Women’s Ministry International (WMI) have seen more growth.

CDM continues to produce printed resources for churches, including “Teach Us to Worship” and the ESL “Neighbor to Neighbor” curriculum. The PCA Bookstore provides a wide variety of resources.

Covenant College

In August Covenant College will welcome its largest freshman class in its history. Covenant College received financial gifts from 469 churches, with 202 participating in the college’s Church Scholarship Promise program. In total, the college received roughly $968,000 from churches.

The college has planned several improvements to the college facilities, and the Covenant College’s chapel program continues to shepherd students through discipleship groups and chapel three times each week.

Covenant Theological Seminary

This year Covenant Seminary received a $25,000 Moving Forward in Mission Grant from the Association of Theological Schools to further the seminary’s goal of recruiting and training more pastor-minded church planters, as well as church planting team members, for the PCA and beyond. This spring the seminary announced that Dr. Richard Joe will join the faculty as associate professor of world missions and the first occupant of the Paul D. Kooistra Chair of World Missions.

The past academic year has continued the general upward trend in enrollments in key programs. Covenant Seminary experienced robust numbers in several programs, including the pastor-minded M.Div Ordination Track program, which grew by 18% compared to the previous year, with 40 new students enrolled.

Mission to North America

In 2024, 40 new churches were planted and 150+ future church planters were trained. MNA’s Church Planter Assessment Center held five church planter assessments, assessing 30 couples or individuals in 2024. MNA Disaster Response coordinated the PCA response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Read More