Ruling Elder Mel Duncan Surveys the Histories of the PCA
Part of the first generation to have grown up in the PCA, Duncan shares some reflections on his childhood as well as articulates a clear, gospel centered, Christ exalting vision for the PCA's future
As we look back on last year’s 50th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church in America, the record of God’s sustaining mercies to the PCA inspires much praise and gratitude. The providence of God in caring for and ordering events that led up to that First General Assembly in 1973 is remarkable.
Reading the history of the PCA is a thrilling experience.
There have been a number of books written on the history of the PCA, and RE Melton Duncan joined the Podcast this week to walk us through a number of the key historical works that reflect on the development of the PCA.
Some of them are listed here:
David Hall, Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America
Frank J. Smith, History of the PCA (25th Anniversary)
Morton H. Smith, How is the Gold Become Dim
John E. Richards, The Historical Birth of the Presbyterian Church in America
Robert Cannada & Jack Williamson, The Historic Polity of the PCA
Paul Settle, To God All Praise and Glory
On this episode, RE Duncan also shared his vision for the PCA to continue growing together to become more holy, more useful, and more Presbyterian.
Duncan serves as the Administrator for the Second Presbyterian Church of Greenville, South Carolina and is one of the preeminent churchman in the PCA; he serves in all levels of the PCA Courts: a ruling elder on the SPC Session, stated clerk of Calvary Presbytery, and is a fixture on the General Assembly’s “Committee of Thanks” as well as the Standing Judicial Commission.
Listen to the Episode on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts,
Spotify, or wherever you hear your podcasts!
On the episode Duncan reflected on the “godly controversy” within the PCA that has helped us to refine our understanding of the Bible’s teaching. He noted how Ruling Elders have risen to the challenge to help the Church hold fast to the faith we confess together.
Duncan also observed a shift in the PCA in recent years. The three classic groups in the PCA, the Doctrinalists, Pietists, and Culturalists, have somewhat realigned. The “Cultural Transformationalist” wing of the PCA seems now to be more on the fringe of the denomination, whereas recently the Doctrinalists and Pietists have moved closer together in the face of theological urgency in the life of the PCA.
Duncan noted his encouragement at the way in which the PCA has dialogued together on “hard issues” that have confronted us lately. One example is the conversations happening in the PCA surrounding the role of the “Directory for the Worship of God” in our Book of Church Order.
The work of the “Directory” was left unfinished by the founding generation. Recently new, young voices are showing an interest in discussing the “Directory” in hopes of the Church thinking together with greater wisdom regarding worship, enriching the worship of our congregations, and expressing greater unity regarding worship in the Presbyterian Church in America.
The PCA is well-positioned to be used by God in future generations. We have had difficult family conversations lately, but now on the other side of some of those issues, we are demonstrating both greater unity and a more robust commitment to our historic Reformed principles.