David Garner, Westminster Theological Seminary associate professor of systematic theology and chair of the PCA’s Insider Movement (IM) Study Committee, said committee members are striving to complete a report on how IM practices affect the PCA.

“We’ve got a wonderful group of guys on the committee,” Garner said, “a rich constellation of missiologists and those that are gifted more on the theological end of things, and everything in between. It’s a diverse group eager and committed to doing good work together.”

“Insiders” are professing believers in Jesus who, among other things, are encouraged to also identify as Muslim. In some cases within IM, Bible translations avoid Christian terms regarded as offensive to Muslim populations, such as references to God as “Father” and Jesus as “Son.”

The committee will summarize and assess the theology and practices of Insider Movements; examine the theological impact of Bible translations that remove familial language in reference to the Trinity; offer a biblical response to such interpretations; assess the influence of Insider Movements among mission agencies including PCA missions partners; and recommend resources for training congregations and explaining the relevance and importance of the issue to the denomination.

“The overture has a fairly large scope in terms of what we’re asked to research and report on, and because of its scope, we have carefully divided its charge into manageable components,” Garner said. Garner also said the committee plans to have a progress report for the General Assembly this June.

The other committee members are teaching elders Nabeel Jabbour and Bill Nikides, as well as ruling elders Robert Berman, Jonathan Mitchell, and Tom Seelinger.

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