By Jared Nelson | September 21, 2023 While all of the proposed amendments to the Book of Church Order (BCO) received about three-fourths (or more) support at the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCAGA50), Item 1 (i.e., Overture 26), is most likely to receive a measure of debate and discussion in … More Hammering Out Item 1
by Philip Ryan | September 20, 2023 “The words ‘system of doctrine,’ have a definite meaning, and serve to define and limit the extent to which the confession is adopted.” ~ Charles Hodge [1] The Westminster Confession and Catechisms are a treasure. When people ask for a good one-volume systematic theology, I usually recommend the … More Our System of Doctrine
By Scott Edburg | August 17, 2023 I may not be King Theoden from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and we are not on the verge of the Battle of Helm’s Deep, but I would like to make the observation that we in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) are beginning another significant event … More And So It Begins…
By Zachery Byrd | July 27, 2023 Is the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) a “Big House,” or a “Big Tent?” How about a third option? The PCA a “Big Flock!” In its 50-year history the PCA has enjoyed numerical growth nearly every year, so much so that the 50th General Assembly reported 390,319[1] members … More How to Keep 390,319 Sheep in Green Pastures
By David Patrick Cassidy | July 21, 2023 Please note that the Editorial Board of Presbyterian Polity does not necessarily endorse all views expressed on the blog of this site, but the editors are pleased to present well-crafted position papers on issues facing Presbyterian churches and denominations. What follows is one such paper for our … More Yes, We Need Overture 23
by David W. Hall | July 12, 2023 Editor’s Note: What follows below is an excerpt (pp. 124-127) from Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America by Dr. David W. Hall (Covenant Foundation, 2023), the first published history of the PCA’s inaugural 50 years. Single copies are available for purchase from Amazon.com, and discount pricing … More A New History of the PCA’s First 50 Years
by Zachary Groff | July 7, 2023 After the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), I had the unique privilege to spend 8.5 hours in my car with a founding father of the denomination. Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr. and I made the long drive from Memphis to Greenville with much … More Polity Protects the Pulpit
by The Editors | July 6, 2023 We are delighted to be partnering with the PCA Bookstore to distribute Parliamentary Procedure for Presbyters: A Beginner’s Guide by TE Jacob D. Gerber. Get your copy (or copies) today at the PCA Bookstore website. Stay tuned for information on more retailers to come!
By Job Dalomba | July 3, 2023 I no longer believe myself to be a young minister, but my time as a pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) is still in its early days. Four years ago, I entered the PCA after serving as a Baptist pastor for nine years. I came into … More Polity Is Spiritual
by The Editors | June 21, 2023 With the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) behind us, the denomination’s elders who attended have been or will be reporting on the actions and events of the Assembly to their congregations, as required by the Book of Church Order (BCO) 12-5.f. Teaching Elder … More Charting the Votes of PCAGA50