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Do We Need Overture 15? Overture 29 Tells Us “Yes”

Zack Groff

By George Sayour | January 20, 2023


Note: The second half of this article is a line-by-line look at how Overture 29 lines up with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

I have many friends who are in support of Overture 29. In addition, I am on the Gospel Reformation Network (GRN) General Council and the GRN has officially advocated for its passage. Sadly, I am less encouraged than my friends on what Overture 29 will  accomplish as it relates to the Side B Problem in the PCA. Of course, I agree wholeheartedly with the language of Overture 29.  As I show below, it is simply a restatement of what is already in the Constitution of the PCA. In fact, there is nothing in it that is not already in our Book of Church Order (BCO) or the Westminster Standards. But something is still missing. That is of course not a reason to vote against it. I’m just asking:

How can Overture 29 deal with the Side B problem in the PCA, if our Confession and BCO have not?

Further to the point, Overture 29 is being hailed as “addressing the substance of the problem” and the “final word on the matter” by men who believe that former PCA Pastor Greg Johnson’s only violation was that “he could have spoken more clearly” and who believe it is ok to partner with, speak at, and host the annually occurring Revoice Conference. That leads to the question:

How can Overture 29 on its own deal with the substance of the problem if these same men are supporting it and they have not changed their view?

Therefore, what is missing from our Confession is not something in Overture 29, but something that neither the Westminster Divines nor the founders of the PCA could have conceived of, namely Christians enthusiastically adopting a homosexual self-conception. We would do well to remember that former PCA Pastor Greg Johnson objected to Article 7 of the Nashville Statement on this point, yet he said he agreed with the language of Overture 29 at the 49th General Assembly of the PCA.

Therefore, what is needed to deal with the issue of the Side B anthropological and ontological conception of man is not Overture 29 on its own. Something more is needed. That is where Overture 15 serves to complement and to complete Overture 29. Here are some articles in support of Overture 15:

What follows is a line-by-line look at Overture 29 and how it corresponds to the PCA Constitution.

Overture 29 proposes to add to Chapter 16 of the BCO the following:

Officers in the Presbyterian Church in America must be above reproach in their walk and Christlike in their character. While office bearers will see spiritual perfection only in glory, they will continue in this life to confess and to mortify remaining sins in light of God’s work of progressive sanctification. Therefore, to be qualified for office, they must affirm the sinfulness of fallen desires, the reality and hope of progressive sanctification, and be committed to the pursuit of Spirit empowered victory over their sinful temptations, inclinations, and actions.

Officers in the Presbyterian Church in America

must be above reproach in their walk and Christlike in their character. 

While office bearers will see spiritual perfection only in glory

they will continue in this life to confess and to mortify remaining sins in light of God’s work of progressive sanctification. 

Therefore, to be qualified for office, they must affirm

the sinfulness of fallen desires

the reality and hope of progressive sanctification,

and be committed to the pursuit of Spirit empowered victory over their sinful temptations, inclinations, and actions.

George Sayour is a PCA Teaching Elder serving as Pastor of Meadowview Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Lexington, NC.

Additional Resources on PCAGA49’s Overture 15

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