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?