PCA General Assembly Update!
In the first two days of the PCA General Assembly, the denomination has demonstrated renewed commitments to Old School Presbyterianism and Review & Control
While much business remains to be settled by the PCA General Assembly, the first two days have been full of accomplishments for the Old School wing of the PCA.
Tomorrow the Assembly will take up the Nominating Committee (NomCom) Report and the Overtures Committee (OC) Report. NomCom is perhaps the most important hour of General Assembly as the men who will supervise the Permanent Committees and Agencies for the next 3-4 year terms are selected.
This year again we should anticipate a large number of strong floor nominees as the Progressives seemed to have had an advantage at the NomCom meeting. The NomCom report begins promptly at 9:30 a.m.
Overtures Committee (OC)
The OC was chaired by RTS Jackson Dean TE Guy Waters who was perhaps my favorite professor during my time in seminary. He did a superb job wielding the gavel and steering the committee both effectively and fairly.
The OC seemed to have a clear majority of conservative elders, which was evidenced by the speedy rejection of women’s ordination. There remains no path to women’s ordination in the PCA. I presume in years to come, men in skinny jeans will continue to send up bad ideas to the General Assembly. While the PCA can’t prevent bad ideas from being sent up, this year the Lord has again blessed the PCA with abundance of elders who are committed to uphold the truth of the Scripture and resoundingly reject absurd ideas such as women’s ordination.
The OC also rejected several other changes to the Constitution aimed at ensuring the congregations are led by ordained men. The reason for this is the strength of our constitution as it exists: we already have the constitutional and judicial mechanisms to root out those who are seeking to place unordained people in positions of spiritual authority, which Christ has reserved for ordained men.
Moderator Election
Two men were put forward to serve as moderator. RE Jay Neikirk of Ascension Presbytery and RE Melton Duncan of Calvary Presbytery. Both men are renowned for their conservative, confessional commitments and their love for the PCA.
Interestingly, RE Neikirk was my mentor/overseer when I was a candidate of the Ascension Presbytery and a member of Hillcrest PCA during college and seminary days.
It is most remarkable that the “left” wing of the PCA did not even seem to proffer a candidate for moderator this year, so the Assembly was left to choose from two superb confessional churchmen.
The Assembly elected RE Duncan who has done a superb job keeping the Assembly ahead of schedule and his delightful demeanor has diffused numerous potential troubles.
Stated Clerk Elected
TE Fred Greco was unanimously elected to be Stated Clerk, to begin his term of office at the close of this year’s Assembly. Both interim clerk RE John Bise and now Stated Clerk-Elect Greco represent the very best of the PCA. They are men with strong confessional and Old School credentials.
The term of RE Bise was markedly different from his predecessor. RE Bise successfully delivered the mail, produced minutes, rarely spoke at General Assembly, and was a frequent visitor to the various presbyteries of the PCA to encourage them in their work.
We can pray TE Greco continues the precedent set by RE Bise: a clerk who is not a celebrity, mascot, or spokesman. But a clerk who simply encourages and facilitates the work of the church who keeps records, delivers the mail, and gives advice when asked.
Review of Presbytery Records (RPR)
The RPR report was almost unbelievable in the success the Assembly granted to Old Schoolers. Except for one minor issue of how to dismiss a minister to a liberal mainline faith communion, the Assembly agreed with the RPR Committee every time. The particular issues demonstrated how much progress Old School Presbyterians have made in restoring the PCA’s commitment to the Westminster Standards and rejecting obnoxious deviations from our Standards.
I’ll highlight three examples briefly.
Images of Divine Persons are Unlawful
Now that the Assembly is no longer distracted by sodomite-lusting ministers, there is time to ponder and protect the glory of Christ. The Assembly approved an exception of substance regarding a candidate’s view that images of Christ may be used artistically or didactically.
The Assembly overwhelmingly determined such a stated difference strikes at the vitals of religion and/or is hostile to our system of doctrine.
The Lord’s Supper is not “Carryout”
In a situation in which the elements of the Lord’s Supper were being taken out of the worship service and given those not then present with the congregation, the Assembly determined this practice violates the PCA Constitution and the teaching of Scripture.
The Assembly wisely preserved the link between the word and sacrament to guard against a superstitious or magical view that simply receiving bread and wine apart from the preaching of the word is of spiritual benefit.
Paedocommunion Strikes at the Vitals
There were a few instances in which presbyteries granted exceptions to men who hold to the baptist error of believing baptized infants are entitled to receive the elements of the Lord’s Supper. In each instance, the Assembly ruled the stated view violates the Constitution in such a way as to be hostile to the system and/or strike at the vitals of religion.
A number of men objected to such a finding by asserting that such deviations had been tolerated before. That may well be; but now the PCA is discovering with new delight the riches of our Westminster Standards and is no longer tolerating this baptist error. Doug Wilson’s devotees may not be long for the PCA.
Christian Nationalism (CN) Partial Report Approved for Distribution
The CN Study Committee offered a partial report. TE David Strain, the chairman of the committee, humbly acknowledged the report contains errors and inaccuracies, but would like to receive feedback from the wider Church on the committee’s work so far.
A few brothers attempted to limit what portions of the partial report would be distributed, which created a short debate. This unexpected debate prompted the Progressive A4MR to send out a group chat urging their members to return to the hall to do the business their congregations sent them to do.
Despite the objections to the partial report, the Assembly acceded to the committee’s request to make the report available. Tomorrow we will vote on whether to grant the committee’s request for another year to its work.
Bible & Theology Faculty at Covenant Seminary and Covenant College
In one of the few disappointments of the day, the Assembly rejected an overture that would have required the General Assembly’s educational institutions to limit their Bible and Theology faculty to ordained elders in NAPARC denominations.
Both the College and the Seminary objected to this requirement, while at the same time asserting they are committed to doing good work for the PCA within our theological framework.
I was disappointed there was no opportunity for the Assembly to properly consider this overture (due to the negative recommendations and lack of minority reports). But I hope to write more about this at a later time.
It seems axiomatic that schools owned and operated by the PCA should be required to employ as Bible or Theology faculty only men who are ordained elders in the PCA or like denominations.
Tennessee Valley Presbytery (TVP) Multiplies
For the last two or three years, elders in TVP have been discussing dividing into two presbyteries: one centered on Chattanooga and one centered around Knoxville. TVP is massive; it consists of 40 particular congregations and about 10,000 communicant members. It is larger than many NAPARC denominations.
Most of the sessions in the Knoxville area recognize the PCA churches in their region have grown to a sufficient size and number that they are ready to have their own presbytery.
Earlier this year, the Presbytery approved overtures from multiple sessions seeking to add another presbytery to the PCA. The measure was approved at the Winter meeting of TVP and an attempt to reconsider the measure at the Spring meeting was defeated. The will of the majority of TVP is clear: Knoxville is ready for its own presbytery.
Curiously, on the floor of the General Assembly, a few progressives attempted to stop the multiplication and force the Knoxville churches to remain against their will in one presbytery with the Chattanooga churches.
Thankfully, the Assembly was unmoved by these last minute maneuverings and voted to sustain the recommendation of the MNA Permanent Committee, the MNA Committee of Commissioners, and the will of the majority of the presbyters in TVP.
The Smoky Mountain Presbytery is scheduled to be born on January 1, 2027. Congratulations to the brothers of this new presbytery!
Conclusion
The first two days of the PCA General Assembly have gone remarkably well from my perspective! But as Scarlett O’Hara reminds us, tomorrow is another day. It is vitally important that our brothers be in the hall and ready for business at 8 a.m. Thursday and ready for the NomCom Report at 9:30 a.m.
The successes of Wednesday does not guarantee the outcome of Thursday’s business.
After the NomCom Report, we will likely take up a large number of overtures.
If the steady pace set by RE Duncan continues, it is possibly the Assembly might recess in time for a late lunch, which would mean he beats RE Dowling’s previous record for the shortest PCA General Assembly in recent memory.