Tag: Overtures

An Overture that Doesn’t Make the “Grade”: The Presbyterian Judicial System is Necessarily “Vertically Inclined”

March 26, 2024

By Brad Isbell | March 26, 2024 An overture from a PCA session (meaning it failed to receive a majority at presbytery) would make the presbyterian judicial system more horizontal and lateral. The rationale (in part): For small Presbyteries and Sessions, it can be particularly difficult to perform an investigation properly, let alone to execute a trial. … More An Overture that Doesn’t Make the “Grade”: The Presbyterian Judicial System is Necessarily “Vertically Inclined”

Trying to Do Something… Substantial

January 5, 2024

Understanding Overture 4 from Central Indiana Presbytery By Dan Barber | January 5, 2024 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 … More Trying to Do Something… Substantial

Hammering Out Item 1

September 21, 2023

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

Yes, We Need Overture 23

July 21, 2023

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

The Route for Amending the RAO: Explaining How the 50th GA Handled Overture 7

June 19, 2023

By Jared Nelson | June 19, 2023 One potentially confusing part of the deliberations at the 50th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was the consideration of Overture 7. You can see the substance of that overture in a previous Presbyterian Polity article here. While there was some confusion as to substance … More The Route for Amending the RAO: Explaining How the 50th GA Handled Overture 7

Proposed Constitutional Amendments before the PCA in 2022

September 9, 2022

By Scott Edburg | September 9, 2022 As the 88 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) begin deliberations on the actions of the 49th General Assembly in Birmingham, their presbyters may be overwhelmed by the number of proposed constitutional amendments that must be considered before the 50th General Assembly in Memphis. There are … More Proposed Constitutional Amendments before the PCA in 2022

Three Reasons to Adopt PCAGA49’s Overture 15

September 8, 2022

by James Norris | September 8, 2022 This year’s General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) voted to affirm an amended version of Overture 15, which is now being considered by the denomination’s presbyteries as Item 1. It seeks to add the following language to the Book of Church Order (BCO): 7-4. Men … More Three Reasons to Adopt PCAGA49’s Overture 15