Wisconsin and Northwest Georgia Presbyteries, both meeting on September 11, were the first PCA Presbyteries to consider the proposed amendments to the Book of Church Order. Both courts voted overwhelmingly against approval.

Wisconsin Presbytery voted 14-2 against both the amendments, while Northwest Georgia voted 23-2 against BCO 14-1 and 24-2 against BCO 14-2.

The amendments to BCO 14-1 and 2, which were sent down from the 38th PCA General Assembly, would change the way voting membership would be considered at GA meetings. The amendments would require churches, Presbyteries and teaching elders to pay an annual registration fee in order to have the ability to vote.
TE David Hall of Northwest Georgia Presbytery forward a brief summary of some of the speeches made during the meeting.

(1) That despite the previous Assembly’s CCB opinion, this proposal does in fact conflict with BCO 25;
(2) The timing did not show pastoral sensitivity, with so many churches having to make cuts during this recession;
(3) Other formulae should be considered before adopting this one;
(4) The worst result of not approving it would simply mean that the AC would have to live within its means as it has for the previous 37 years;
(5) The recent article on The Aquila Report argued that the proposed wording might be taken as constituting a civil connection between the courts, and the risk as phrased was simply too great.

One pastor spoke in favor of the amendment, suggesting that it would save his church money and that all churches should pay their fair share.

Venerable Founding Father Todd Allen rose to speak against the proposal and repeated his position spelled out in a letter posted recently on The Aquila Report.

Another ruling elder warned against a creeping hierarchicalism that seemed to be budding within our church.

One speaker noted that one line item in the AC budget to fund publishing could be cut to save ca. 20%.

To be adopted, the amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the PCA’s 78 Presbyteries and also by a majority vote at the 39th General Assembly. Many Presbyteries will be voting at their fall or winter stated meetings, and we will seek to report those votes when they are made available.