“We urge all church leaders to use their influence for the protection of children, by any and all godly means, including preaching and teaching against the heinous sin of child sexual abuse, warning anyone with knowledge of these sins to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose 1 them” (Ephesians 5:11), and by supporting victims who often suffer in silence and shame without the vocal and compassionate support of the church.”

At its Stated Meeting on January 18, 2014, the Georgia Foothills Presbytery approved an overture that asks the 42^nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) to approve a “Statement on Child Protection in the PCA.” An overture is a means by which Presbyteries can request the General Assembly to consider various actions.

The document, A Statement on Child Protection in the PCA, was written by a committee arising from the 41^st General Assembly. A personal resolution had been presented to the Assembly and after discussion was referred to a committee to draft a resolution to be presented to the 42^nd General Assembly for its to consideration.

The overture has a number of preliminary statements, such as, there is “an epidemic of child sexual abuse exists in our culture;” and warns of the “silence of the church – when we fail to appropriately address ‘rape, incest, sodomy and all unnatural lusts,’ by not reporting disclosures of child sexual abuse, or not caring for those who disclose child sexual abuse, or not proactively taking steps to prevent child sexual abuse.”

There are a number of recommended resolutions offered in the overture, including, to “exhort all church leaders to become informed and to take an active stance toward preventing child sexual abuse in the church.” It also recommends that “we urge all church leaders to use their influence for the protection of children, by any and all godly means, including preaching and teaching against the heinous sin of child sexual abuse….”

The 42^nd PCA General Assembly will be meeting on June 17-20, 2014 in Houston, Texas.

Read the “Statement on Child Protection in the PCA”