If freedom to innovate is more important to some sessions than following the rules—one of the bonds of unity and trust—they would do well to lead their congregations to greener, broader pastures in one of the many denominations that more nearly align with their desires and preferences.

I don’t like writing about this, but I like ecclesial lawlessness even less. And I don’t seek this stuff—it is thrust upon me.

Is there any reason unordained persons should lay hands on ruling elders being ordained in a PCA church? Is there any reason “commissioned” persons should have hands laid on them by a mixture of ordained & non-ordained persons?¹ Is there any reason to call a “commissioned” person by the title of an ordained office?

7-3 No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive any official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as are employed in the Scriptures. Furthermore, unordained people shall not be referred to as, or given the titles of, the ordained offices of pastor/elder, or deacon.

Answer: No, this is illegal per BCO 7-3, yet the practice continues right up to this week. PCA churches are comfortable enough with these non-standard practices that they even post evidence of them on their Instagram feeds.

You know my position on public shaming/allegations and careless “research,” but a small minority of PCA churches are in high-handed rebellion against the PCA’s order, and they should not expect to be trusted or celebrated while this is the case. Nor should they expect to avoid complaints and reports.

If freedom to innovate is more important to some sessions than following the rules—one of the bonds of unity and trust—they would do well to lead their congregations to greener, broader pastures in one of the many denominations that more nearly align with their desires and preferences. For the moment, their (public, placarded) ecclesial disobedience appears to be a dialectical strategy to force change, minimize our order, or normalize lawlessness.

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