Both New River and Great Lakes Presbyteries voted on Saturday, September 18 against the newly proposed AC Funding Plan.

At the Stated Meetings of both New River Presbytery (which includes most of the state of West Virginia) and Great Lakes Presbytery (which includes all of Michigan and the Northeastern corner of Indiana) votes were taken at Stated meetings held on Saturday, September 18 on proposed changes to the PCA Book of Church Order.

The report received from Great Lakes Presbytery indicated that the votes were as follows:

To change BCO 14-1: 2 yes, 28 no, 2 abstain
To change BCO 14-2: 0 yes, 31 no, 0 abstain

No other details concerning the debate leading up to the decision

The report received from New River Presbytery indicated that the votes were as follows:

To change BCO 14-1: 3 yes, 14 no, 0 abstain
To change BCO 14-2: 3 yes, 14 no, 0 abstain

It appears that there was a lengthy debate with some strong emotions demonstrated by a number of speakers at the New River meeting.

The prevailing arguments appear to have been centered in the fear that the proposed changes to the constitution were such that they might – in the future – result in an interpretation that the PCA had moved towards a hierarchical form of government, as well as the perception that allowing a governing body the ability to ‘tax’ has historically led to even more ‘taxing’ and many times, an undesired change in the style of governance. One presbyter likened the atmosphere to that of a ‘Tea Party’ rally.