GRN Fall Gathering: Reflections
After ten years of the Gospel Reformation Network, the PCA is healthier and more committed to her doctrinal standards.
The Gospel Reformation Network (GRN) was founded ten years ago in a meeting outside Knoxville, Tenn. The original aim of the GRN was to emphasize a biblically balanced doctrine of Sanctification in the face of antinomian challenges.
Since that time, the GRN has broadened its mission to promote healthy, confessional churches and warmhearted Reformed piety within the PCA.
This was my first in-person GRN event outside of their lunches at General Assembly. I was curious what they were like. Three things became apparent to me about the attitude and goals of the GRN.
I. Winsome Outreach
A great deal has changed in the PCA over the last two years. Back in 2021, many of us anticipated the failure of certain key overtures on the floor of the St. Louis General Assembly and expected the 2021 Gathering of “Concerned Presbyterians” to be the prelude to a convocation of Sessions to form a continuing Presbyterian Church.
When the St. Louis Assembly overwhelmingly passed overtures aiming to strengthen PCA ordination requirements, mandated a change to the MTW policy manual to require the agency to operate in a presbyterian fashion, and affirmed a presbytery’s right to determine what - if any - deviant theological views may be taught within its bounds, it was clear the trajectory of the PCA had changed.
That trajectory continued at the 2022 Birmingham Assembly. But the GRN Fall Gathering this year in Greenville, SC was not a victory party or gloat session. It was an event that exuded the warmth and welcome for which the GRN is known.
Unlike other networks in the PCA, the GRN does not have members and its events are completely public. The Fall Gathering was no exception. TE Harry Reeder described the work of the GRN in the following terms: pray, preach, publish, and persuade and be open about everything.
The morning began with a food truck serving breakfast tacos and an opportunity for fellowship and encouragement. After hearing such a resounding endorsement of breakfast tacos at the 2021 Assembly, I was eager to try some.
The GRN seems to go out of its way to appeal to all corners of the PCA for dialogue, cooperation, and persuasion. And at the very start of the Fall Gathering, the message was clear: all are welcome here whether you identify with Greenville Seminary or Covenant Seminary or somewhere in between!
II. Winsome Participation
TE Jon Payne set the tone for the gathering with his brief opening address in which he called the elders of the PCA to godly courage. He exhorted us to prayerfulness: “the fostering of godly courage begins on our knees before we enter the pulpit” and warned, “courage without God-centered prayer is hubris and simply crying for attention.” He called all the elders of the PCA to courage born out of humility and prayerfulness.
And he also called us to obedience. He quoted from Joshua’s commission as he prepared to lead the Old Covenant Church in the conquest of the Promised Land.
Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. (Josh. 1:6–7)
Payne said Joshua’s commission is shorthand for “do what I tell you; worship the way I tell you, do ministry the way I tell you.” While our context has changed somewhat from the days of Joshua, that is nonetheless an important ministry paradigm for the 21st Century: obedience, prayerfulness, and faithfulness.
The morning’s events also featured conversations with two fathers in our denomination: TE Fred Greco and RE Melton Duncan. Both of them serve on the Standing Judicial Commission and both of them frequently offer assistance to churches and elders trying to sort through the complexities of the BCO.
Greco and Duncan gave advice and encouragement for participation in the courts of the Church. They shared their own experiences of preparing for the work of General Assembly and Presbytery meetings and alluded to the blessings that come from such preparation and diligence. Greco and Duncan urged us to consider how to bless the church by being prepared for the work ahead.
Greco reminded the elders to follow our Book of Church Order, since differences or exceptions to the BCO are not permitted. Duncan also pointed out the advantages of not only studying in advance the business before the courts, but also to knowing the principles undergirding the polity of the PCA.
It appears to me the GRN is not simply trying to whip votes to accomplish its own aims, but to foster healthy debate within the courts of the Church. Regardless of whether one wears a bowtie and seersucker or skinny jeans and t-shirt to presbytery, there was great advice from Greco and Duncan on how to do the work of a presbyter.
III. Winsome Advocacy
The GRN is not shy about its aims and vision for the PCA; as is made clear on their website. The advocacy of the GRN seeks to exude strength and courage in responsibilities and gentleness and compassion in relationships. TE Seth Hammond summed it up well: “communicate the message in uncompromising truth with unwavering love.”
As such, TEs Harry Reeder and Fred Greco made the case for a pair of overtures being considered by the Presbyteries.
Item 7 (Overture 8): Original Jurisdiction
Despite allegations of “SMOKE AND MIRRORS” and that this was the most “DANGEROUS” overture before the Assembly, the author of the overture is known for his integrity, love for the church, and his willingness to serve anyone across the wide spectrum of the PCA.
In advocating for the passage of Item 7 (Overture 8), TE Greco recalled the one time in which the venerable TE David Coffin was confused on the floor of the Assembly: it pertained to an original jurisdiction request. And this item attempts to remedy the confusion.
Contrary to the allegation this proposal will enable “witch-hunts,” Greco argued Item 7 will simplify the way a matter may move from a lesser court (e.g. Session or Presbytery) to a greater court (e.g. Presbytery or SJC of the Assembly). Currently the language of the BCO is vague and inconsistent on this point.
The proposal Greco drafted, which was passed in a slightly modified form by the Assembly, would bring not only consistency but also clarity to our process: 10% of the lesser courts (e.g. Sessions or Presbyteries) must request the greater court (Presbytery or the SJC) to assume jurisdiction over a matter if the original lesser court failed to indict.
The proposed change raises the bar for assuming original jurisdiction, but also clarifies the standard for when a greater court may step in: a failure to indict by the lower court (currently it is two courts and the standard is vaguely defined as fails to act).
Greco argued passing Item 7 (Overture 8) will help us to be presbyterian and strengthen our connections.
Item 1 (Overture 15): Above Reproach
TE Harry Reeder made a case for elders to vote for Items 1, 4, and 5 (O15, O29, O31) particularly. He spent most of his energies promoting Item 1, since Items 4 and 5 are less controversial.
Reeder began with the theology both behind and reflected in the overture.
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:14)
The language of no dominion, Reeder reminded us, is not an imperative, but an indicative. Thus, he argued, it is entirely inappropriate for an officer or officer candidate to identify himself or describe himself according to his sinful affections.
According to Reeder, anything in our constitutional standards must be defined by the scripture, and Overture 15 is “an excellent instrument to make clear our standard: we need elders who are above reproach.”
Overture 15 not only describes an aspect of what it is to be above reproach, but also reflects the loving thing to do. Overture 15 is loving because it would protect potential officers from needless temptations. The Bible, Reeder reminds us, does not tell us to resist temptation, but to flee temptation. For someone who is under the dominion of homosexual desires, whose experience of homosexual lust is so strong that he describes himself in that way, Reeder argued it is unloving to put him in a position of ordained leadership.
In keeping with the GRN heritage, Reeder affirmed the classic Reformed view of Sanctification: Christ’s people - by the power of His Spirit - can nurture new desires in their lives. Reeder’s concern seemed to be both to guard the office from unqualified men as well as potential officers from needless temptation.
Reeder also addressed a concern that too many people are trying to enter the ministry for the wrong reasons. He warned against those who enter the ministry in order to find their own fulfillment or to be fulfilled. He said, “you enter the ministry to fulfill the ministry and to be poured out.”
Reeder made some excellent arguments and issued a vital warning for an age when personality-centered ministry and even personal-sinful-desire-centered ministries are proliferating. When ministry becomes about the man rather than the Man, we are in grave trouble.
The GRN appeared to me to be firmly committed to the unity and integrity, purity and peace of the Presbyterian Church in America. This was evident as TE Reeder’s encouraged elders and churches not to become overly disturbed if Overture 15 fails. He argued even the passage of only Overtures 29 and 31 will provide additional tools for the Church to guard against church officers who have been unduly influenced by postmodernist trends in morality.
IV. Concluding Thoughts
The vision for the PCA cast by the GRN Fall Gathering was one of joyful obedience. Jon Payne set the tone with his opening address, which was carried through in all the addresses, the prayer meeting, and the panel conversations.
An attitude of optimism and cheerfulness seemed to pervade the attendees regarding the future of the PCA. Indeed, the GRN has been instrumental in changing the course of the PCA and has much for which to give thanks. But as Payne stated at the GRN General Assembly luncheon: we are in a marathon race, so elders must continue to be engaged in the work of their regional Presbyteries and the General Assembly.
But the GRN Fall Gathering was not simply focused on denominational policies and the work of the General Assembly. Multiple times the speakers warned against becoming too consumed by denominational politics and advocacy. Greco’s counsel is a faithful word: he urged the elders to be tethered to ministry in the local church, the day to day ministry of the church rather than to be torn apart by the “big picture.” Greco said, “serve Christ by serving the widow and high-fiving the six year old and helping the young couple.”
"... whether you identify with Greenville Seminary or Covenant Seminary or somewhere in between ..." So is there some type of Alexandria vs. Antoich type conflict here that I am not aware of?