by Zachary Groff | June 13, 2023 The 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) formally opens with a worship service, Stated Clerk’s address, and the election of a moderator this evening (Tuesday the 13th). However, the important business of the Committees of Commissioners (CoCs) commenced yesterday and will continue throughout the … More Action & Accountability at PCAGA50
By Matt Fender | June 9, 2023 Editor’s Note: What follows is a public response to a public criticism of a committee recommendation before the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The Review of Presbytery Records (RPR) Committee has recommended to the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America … More Safeguarding Our Unity: RPR’s Citation of a Woman Preaching
by Zachary Groff | March 22, 2023 As reported in the Where Are They Now? post last year, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has the responsibility to report annually on statistical changes, including departures from the denomination. Each year, the Clerk’s report includes news of church closures and transfers out … More Ministry Moves Reported in 2022
By Jacob Gerber | November 5, 2022 The Presbyteries of the PCA are currently voting on two Book of Church Order (BCO) amendments that are very similar: Item 6 (Overture 2021-20) and Item 11 (Overture 2021-21). In their final forms, both seek to require a 2/3 vote to suspend the official functions of an officer, … More 2022 Proposals: The Case for Item 6 & Against Item 11
By Jacob Gerber | October 7, 2022 The list of Book of Church Order (BCO) amendments handed down to the Presbyteries from the 49th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is daunting. For a basic refresher on the amendments before us, including a breakdown of the votes that they received in Overtures and … More Researching the Rationales of PCAGA49’s Proposed BCO Amendments
By Jacob Gerber | August 16, 2022 In my last article, I detailed the parliamentary rules[1] which require minority reports from the Committee on Constitutional Business (CCB) the right to be presented to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) for consideration. Further, I showed how our parliamentary rules for handling such … More Minority Reports, CCB, & the SJC – Part 2: Why This is Important
By Jacob Gerber | August 11, 2022 Background At the 49th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Committee on Constitutional Business (CCB) presented its annual report, which included the results of its review of the minutes of the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC), according to the PCA’s Rules of Assembly Operations (RAO): … More Minority Reports, CCB, & the SJC – Part 1: The Parliamentary Rules
by Zachary Groff | April 7, 2022 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy (Matthew 5:7). At the heart of the Beatitudes, our Lord sets forth mercy as a – if not the – central mark of Christian discipleship, Kingdom living, and human flourishing in the church. Such being the case, what does … More Mercy in Church Courts
by Zachary Groff | March 14, 2022 Last month, I commented on recent transfers of both ministers and congregations out of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), observing that “the pipeline in the direction of churches that are philosophically committed to more peaceful “bigger tent” expressions of Reformed faith and practice is certainly fuller than … More Eight Years of Moving Out (2012-2020)
by Zachary Groff | February 24, 2022 At each year’s meeting of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Stated Clerk gives an annual report at the beginning of business. In his report, the Clerk takes an opportunity to reflect on significant developments in the life of the Church. His words … More Where Are They Now?