The following overture was adopted by the Northern California Presbytery at its March 2010 stated meeting to be presented to the 38th PCA General Assembly, which is meeting in Nashville, Tenn., June 29-July 2.

Overture from the Northern California Presbytery
“Amend BCO to bring clarity and order regarding church practice in the ministry of deacons”

Whereas, the scripture is the only infallible and inerrant rule of life and practice, and has, in the New Testament in particular, set forth certain principles for the government of the church which include the ministries of both elders and deacons, and

Whereas the BCO recognizes these ministries and the men who carry out their work in terms of offices and officers, we affirm these shared commitments: men only may be ordained to offices in the church (1Timothy 3), diaconal ministry is an important part of the church’s mission and work (Acts 6, 1Timothy 3, BCO 9), teaching and ruling elders are called to uphold the Bible fully within their churches and Presbyteries (2Peter 1, BCO Preface II), Sessions are the authoritative court of local churches (BCO 4-3), and

Whereas various interpretations of the Bible have led to a variety of practices within the PCA over the course of its entire history with respect to diaconal ministries. These differences have led to confusion and division over these various interpretations and practices, particularly in recent years, and

Whereas local Sessions have always retained the authority to create, appoint and oversee all biblically valid ministries within their local churches which are guided by unordained members of the church (BCO 1-5), and

Whereas there is a strong desire to hold firm to the essentials of our faith and practice as outlined in scripture and our confession, the BCO should not unduly bind the conscience of a Session seeking to structure its diaconate under the authority of Scripture (Preface II.7), and

Whereas these various interpretations of the Bible clearly exist within the PCA and it is desirable that the language of the BCO be more clear as it addresses the the various practices of the organization and ministry of the diaconate. These changes will enable the current practices without opening the BCO to broader interpretation.

Now therefore, be it resolved, for the good of the church and the promotion of order and peace, that the BCO be amended in the following areas:

BCO 1-4. The ordained officers of the Church, by whom all its powers are administered, are, according to the Scriptures, teaching and ruling elders and deacons.

BCO 4-2 Its ordained officers are its teaching and ruling elders and its deacons.

BCO 5-10 If deacons are elected, follow the procedures of (1) through (5) above. If deacons are not elected, the duties of the office shall devolve upon the ruling elders.

BCO 7-2 The ordinary and perpetual classes of ordained office in the church are elders and deacons.

BCO 9-2. It is the duty of the deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress. It is their duty also to develop the grace of liberality in the members of the church, to devise effective methods of collecting the gifts of the people, and to distribute these gifts among the objects to which they are contributed. They shall have the care of the property of the congregation, both real and personal, and shall keep in proper repair the church edifice and other buildings belonging to the congregation. In matters of special importance affecting the property of the church, they cannot take final action without the approval of the Session and consent of the congregation.
In the discharge of their duties the deacons are under the supervision and authority of the Session. In a church in which it is impossible for any reason to secure deacons, the duties of the office shall devolve upon the ruling elders. (Change this to the following)

In a church in which deacons are not ordained, the responsibility for the oversight of diaconal ministries shall devolve upon the Session.

BCO 9-7. It is often expedient that the Session of a church should select and appoint godly men and women of the congregation to assist the deacons and/or Session in caring for the sick, the widows, the orphans, the prisoners, and others who may be in any distress or need.

[ADDITION: BCO 9-8] In a local church which does not have ordained deacons, the Session may appoint an unordained body of men and women to carry out diaconal ministry. They may care for the sick, the widows, the orphans, the prisoners, and others who may be in any distress or need. However, these men and women do not carry the same constitutional rights as ordained deacons.