Beware the Latitude of the Pharisees

By Ryan Biese | December 5, 2022 I was reared Lutheran (ELCA). In my experience growing up and attending several different Lutheran congregations, the worship was fundamentally the same.[1] Regardless of whether we attended a relatively conservative or relatively liberal congregation, the order of worship essentially did not change. It did not even matter whether … More Beware the Latitude of the Pharisees

Grassroots Presbyterianism & Amending BCO 34-1

By Jared Nelson | October 13, 2022 “Grassroots Presbyterianism” has become a common description of the polity of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The term generally communicates the understanding that the PCA has been a bottom-up denomination that was formed with a conscious effort to give more power to the Presbyteries rather than the … More Grassroots Presbyterianism & Amending BCO 34-1

All Church Power Is Only Ministerial & Declarative

By Jacob Gerber | May 9, 2022 As a fundamental principle of church government in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), our Book of Church Order limits church power and authority to be only ministerial and declarative: All church power, whether exercised by the body in general, or by representation, is only ministerial and declarative since the Holy Scriptures … More All Church Power Is Only Ministerial & Declarative

Dissent, Response, & Concurrences in Speck v. Missouri Presbytery

By Scott Edburg | February 5, 2022 Earlier this week, byFaith Online published an article entitled SJC Answers Dissent in Greg Johnson Case. This comes several months after the majority made a ruling on a complaint against Missouri Presbytery that sided with Missouri Presbytery over how the Presbytery conducted an investigation of one of its … More Dissent, Response, & Concurrences in Speck v. Missouri Presbytery

The Biblical Foundations of Parliamentary Procedure

By Jacob Gerber | December 20, 2021 “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Ps. 133:1).  Life in Christ’s church can be hard, especially when we must deal with complicated, difficult, and controversial questions. Nevertheless, we purposefully close every General Assembly by singing Psalm 133 together as a prayer that … More The Biblical Foundations of Parliamentary Procedure