PCA No Mas: Saint Louis Congregation departs PCA for CREC
A congregation with a history of Federal Vision theology and paedocommunion has voted to leave the PCA for the CREC. We wish them well, but we wish they would've held fast to the Westminster Standards
In last week’s episode we considered the dangers inherent in Federal Vision’s distortions of the Scripture and Historical Theology. As with most heresies, the influence and pervasiveness of these errors are sometimes difficult to spot and even harder to root out when identified.
In this week’s episode we consider the departure of the Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church (PRC) in Saint Louis. Two of the congregation’s ministers signed the 2007 Federal Vision Statement, but none were convicted by Missouri Presbytery.
When the Session of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, South Carolina was alerted to what appeared to be the practice of paedocommunion visible on the Livestream of PRC, the Session of FPC Dillon sent letters of concern to both the Session of PRC and to Missouri Presbytery asking for clarification.
Pastor Matt Adams explained the reason his Session did so was that the PCA is a “Word and Sacrament” denomination and if we cannot rightly uphold the sacraments together, then our unity and peace are in grave danger.
On the episode we discuss some of the errors in paedocommunion. TE Job Dalomba returns to the show to share about his own authentically broken faith journey beginning as a Baptist to now serve as a pastor in a Reformed and Presbyterian denomination. TE Dalomba notes the similarities in thinking between paedocommunionists and credo-baptists on the sacraments.
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On this week’s episode you can hear about the back and forth communication between TE Adams and a representative of the Session in Saint Louis.
Ultimately the Congregation of Providence Reformed Church in Saint Louis determined to depart the PCA for the CREC, where the practice of paedocommunion is permitted and the Federal Vision heresy is tolerated and promoted by such luminaries as Doug Wilson and Peter Leithart. In the PCA and all other Reformed churches, however, the Federal Vision and Paedocommunion are prohibited by the Standards.
We close the episode by reflecting on what it indicates regarding the health of the PCA that vibrant confessionally Reformed congregations are seeking to affiliate with the PCA while those whose practice and theology deviate from historic reformed theology on matters such as Federal Vision, women’s roles, and human sexuality are departing.
Obviously, we desire such congregations and officers to repent of their erroneous views. But if they will not repent, then we commend them for having the integrity to seek ecclesiastical affiliation elsewhere.
It seems in this season the PCA is renewing her commitment to her Reformed theological heritage and distinctiveness. It is not that the PCA is becoming more strict or her views more narrow, but the PCA is becoming more clear and committed to the theology she confesses in the Westminster Standards.
In short, this is another sign the PCA is growing in her confessional integrity and growing in faithfulness to what we confess the Scripture teaches. And because of this growth, we are experiencing greater unity and peace around the truth together.
The Westminster Standard Podcast will soon be transitioning to a fortnightly publication schedule (i.e. every other week). But in the meantime, you can look forward to some superb contributors offering superb content and important discussions:
February 19: TE Nathan Newman: the PCA’s Humble Petition; how did the commission do its work and what remains to be done by local Sessions and Presbyteries?
February 26: TE Stephen O’Neill: the SJC’s Decision on Metro New York Presbytery and the lady in the pulpit; what directives has the General Assembly given to MNY?
March 4: Mrs Sean Morris, Mrs Ryan Biese & TE Zack Groff: ‘Jesus’ Calling: where are the men in the PCA confronting this error and why is it so popular with women?
Thanks for joining the conversation!