In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here are numbers 1-10.
In 2020 The Aquila Report (TAR) posted over 3,000 stories. At the end of each year we feature the top 50 stories that were read.
TAR posts 8 new stories each day, on a variety of subjects – all of which we trust are of interest to our readers. As a web magazine TAR is an aggregator of news and information that we believe will provide articles that will inform the church of current trends and movements within the church and culture.
In keeping with the journalistic tradition of looking back at the recent past, we present the top 50 stories of the year that were read on The Aquila Report site based on the number of hits. We will present the 50 stories in groups of 10 to run on five lists on consecutive days. Here are numbers 1-10:
There are several things that make Vanguard Presbytery, and the new denomination which will be formed out of this new movement, an attractive option for those who want a confessional and Reformed denomination. A priority of every local church and regional court in this new denomination will be to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for revival, and for the gospel to be preached in sound doctrine.
Politics is a “city of man” venture. We live in a fallen world. I believe we are all far worse than we care to believe, and certainly worse than we want publicized. We are painfully aware of everyone’s faults, sins, and “me-too” moments now (as a side note, I believe this tendency is driving good people away from public service since “Who wants everything bad you’ve ever done dredged up and hung out for public opprobrium?”).
Churches should respect individual liberty by not regulating or restricting worship. Churches should neither forbid nor require masks. They should not forbid elderly people from attending service. They should not be paternalistic. They should treat people like responsible adults and trust them to make wise decisions. And through their preaching they should encourage members to do the same: to respect the decisions of others, whether to wear a mask or not, so that we might worship together in love and unity.
“Grace Presbytery believes the concept of “Celibate Gay Pastor” to be contrary to the teaching of Scripture and the constitutional standards of the Presbyterian Church in America, and that the churches of Grace Presbytery should not presume to think that candidates for our pulpits who identify themselves in this (or similar ways) will be approved for admission to Grace Presbytery.”
The pastor said as many as 25 cars were in the parking lot for the service and everyone was ticketed. Video shows police officers disrupting the service by knocking on the doors of every car. Church members were ordered to turn over their driver’s licenses. They were then issued a fine and a court summons.
We hold on to the hope of redemption, renewal, and life – abundant life – in Christ alone. The church needs to speak prophetically and clearly that all human life is sacred, every man, woman, and child has been created imago Dei and deserves of respect, dignity, and life. May God give us grace and courage in these troubled times to hold onto the Anchor of hope and to hold out that Anchor to those who are lost in our cultural storms.
I have not addressed many of the other underlying theological problems of the nature of homosexuality and how it is to be viewed and treated in individuals, but I believe that if we do not confront the errors of aberrant sexual beliefs and practices will change the course of the PCA. It can happen. There are several things every PCA member can do now.
I could cite many other issues of concern but the crowning blow has been the issue of homosexuality in the PCA. Over the past two years, perhaps you have followed the controversy with the Revoice Conference in St. Louis and the many overtures at our General Assembly to address the issue of what many are calling “Side B” homosexuality… The PCA has failed to discipline a PCA Teaching Elder who has publicly called himself “gay”… So the PCA now has at least one pastor who professes to be a homosexual.
The Steering Committee, comprised of both teaching and ruling elders (from within and outside of the PCA), is guiding the development of the new denomination. These elders are developing what they believe is a true grassroots Book of Church Order. At some time in 2020 there will be a convocation of sessions that will be open to all who desire to be a part of this denomination.
And the number one story read on The Aquila Report for 2020:
This article is now my farewell to the denomination in which I served for 43 years as teaching elder and as a candidate for the ministry from its very inception. I served in several capacities as a PCA minister—pastor of several churches; chaplain in the army reserves/army; veteran of Desert Storm; four terms on the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), the highest judicatory in the PCA; stated clerk of a presbytery; and, numerous committee chairmanships in different presbyteries.
