Thread by @derekradney

Now that #pcaga is over, I want to offer some reflections. (Mega 🧵 ahead)

Overall, I am pleased with the assembly even though a few matters did not got the way I had hoped.

1 of abt 45

But before I talk abt the business, let me offer a few reflections on non-business related joys.

First of all, like last year, I was most encouraged by the fellowship gathering on Wednesday night at Oak Mt. Presbyterian, aka, “Mike’s Dinner.”

2/

About 500 people gathered to sing, pray, hear Russ Whitfield preach, and then eat together outside in a beautiful setting.

The Fellowship Gathering highlights some of the best stuff happening in the PCA: church planting, a new urban seminary, women using their gifts...
3/

...to serve the body, RUF work in universities in New England as well as in HBCUs, MNA AA ministries, & much more.

This year’s moderator, John Bise, was in attendance, along with Wy Plummer of MNA, & many long-time, faithful PCA elders and their families.

4/

Second, it was really wonderful to meet or reconnect with so many ppl I’ve encountered online & to share a few meals with new friends.

I also got to have beneficial, face-to-face conversations w/ several guys I’ve had strong disagreements w/ online.

5/

On to the business of #pcaga.

Prior to, many labeled this GA the “pitchfork assembly,” presumably b/c of the supposed outrage in the pews related to not ratifying O23&O37. Many expected there would be riots tossing out the “corrupt powers destroying the denomination.”

6/

This did not happen.

First, @bryanchapell was reelected to continue as the Stated Clerk by a large margin.

Second, none of the entity heads of RUF, MNA, & MTW, CTS were seriously challenged and will continue their excellent work.

7/

Third, Overture 42 that took aim at condemning & forbidding participation in ‘political groups’ was defeated. This was a not so subtle charge against the National Partnership. [Read here for more info: morsekarl.com/writing/the-tr…]

8/

Sadly, before the O was defeated, one elder delivered the most intemperate, emotionally charged, & shameful speech that I’ve heard on the GA floor.

9/

Fourth, despite the SJC’s announcement this spring that the cases against Greg Johnson were closed, several Os aimed to retry his case, but these attempts were again rejected.

On that same matter, a very organized & motivated faction sought to find a procedure...

10/

...through the Committee on Constitutional Business that would allow them to retry GJs case through the SJC minutes review, but this too failed by a ruling of the chair that the “minority report” brought by 2 members of the CCB was not actually a minority report at all.

11/

Since the CCB does not recommend action, the minority could only register a different opinion, not bring a motion.

So, regarding the pitchfork assembly, there was little disruption. GJ, the NP, entity heads, & the Stated Clerk all continue in good standing.

12/

However, there were significant decisions that were made, several of which I believe to be negative but not catastrophic steps.

13/

First of all, on the matter of sexuality & ordination, the #pcaga did affirm three overtures on the matter, 2 of which are fine & 1 which is problematic. All 3 need to be ratified by 2/3 of the presbyteries & the next GA.

14/

O29 aims to amend BCO 16 on the doctrine of vocation & church orders (like O23 last year) in order to address the substance of the sexuality controversy by adding the theology of sin & sanctification in our confessions to our BCO.

15/

This change is unnecessary, but those concerned abt sliding into theological compromise wanted assurances and everyone was willing to find consensus to provide those assurances.

16/

O31 aims to amend BCO 21 re: the examination of officers (like last yr’s O37). Again, this is an unnecessary change b/c it merely adds theo already in our confession to the BCO, but to try & assure those anxious abt compromise in our denomination, this will hopefully help.

17/

O15 also deals w/ sexuality&ordination, but of the 3, this 1 is not only unnecessary but damaging & out of place, aiming to amend BCO 7 on the general classification of officers by adding a section forbidding officers frm particular self-descriptions related to homosexuality.
18/

IMO O29 & O31 are likely to be ratified by the presbyteries b/c they deal with the substance of the issue the PCA has been facing using the language & theology of our confession that has great consensus, while O15 is more likely than not to fail b/c…

19/

O15 1) targets 1 particular sin, 2) amends a ch. irrelevant to the matter, 3) lacks necessity, esp. if O29 & O31 r affirmed, 4) uses prejudicial language (“those who CLAIM to practice celibacy”),& 5) uses the word “homosexual” in a way many will find antiquated/ derogatory.

20/

In my view, the presbyteries & next year’s GA will do well to approve O29 & O31 while rejecting O15, which will finally settle this controversy & allow us to move forward together.

21/

Second, regarding the AIC Report on Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault, important steps forward were made, but we have a long way to go.
The committee address to the GA Wednesday was both encouraging and sobering. There was overwhelming gratitude & approbation by the PCAGA.

22/

But two sad details stand out. For one, some chose to schedule an unofficial seminar on at the same time as the committee report to continue to talk about their concerns over homosexuality in the PCA.

23/

For another, after the report, one man stood up to complain that women had addressed the assembly in an exhortatory way. The chair dismissed this noting that the women had been invited to report, but it is still a shame & an embarrassment that this elder chose to do this.

24/

However, the #pcaga did not only receive a report, we did affirm an overture from last year & one this year which will help us move toward protecting victims of abuse during ecclesial cases.

25/

O2021-40 made changes to allow courts to implement accommodations for alleged victims so they can avoid having to face their alleged abusers in person or on video conf. It also protects those under 18 from being cross examined orally, opting for written questions instead.

26/

Sadly, O2021-41 aimed at removing the requirement that witnesses believe in God or a system of eternal reward & punishment was not approved but pushed to next year for perfecting b/c many in the Overture Committee were troubled by this removal.

27/

This is an issue that must be addressed. Many discussions need to be had to win over those who feel removing this requirement is dangerous & violates our tradition.

28/

Third, we failed to affirm an overture condemning political intimidation & violence, which is sad & concerning, especially given the fact that Roe was overturned yesterday, sparking political outrage. There were several strange objections that either...

29/

...failed to understand that this overture was not condemning lawful violence from soldiers & law enforcement or that invoked the spirituality of the church despite the fact that the overture spoke to Christians in our churches & not the government.

30/

This spirituality of the church invocation was also strange given that we had just passed an overture instructing the Stated Clerk to send a letter to civil authorities against abortion.

31/

Fifth, O8 sought to amend BCO 33-1 & 34-1, both aimed at clarifying how a higher court may intervene to take jurisdiction from a lower court. These chapters DO need revision, but the occasion under which this change is being sought, namely...

32/

...the investigation of Greg Johnson, framed how the debate and passage of this overture took place.
I fully agree BCO 33-1 & 34-1 need to be amended to better ensure our courts can carry out discipline when a lower court fails to do so faithfully. However,...
33/

...in their eagerness to try & correct what they felt failed them in the GJ case, they offered a solution that has some prblms.
IMO these were not the right changes & several on the SJC agree this wasn’t the best way to go abt correcting the ambiguous phrase “fails to act.”

34/

I have no idea if these changes will make it through the presbyteries, but if we make a good case as to what changes might be better, perhaps it will fail and we can do better next year.

35/

Sixth, there were a lot of permanent committee incumbents that lost their election to elders who had not previously served. This, by itself, isn’t bad, but there was a clear move to oust current board members. This concerns me.

36/

Seventh, we voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals. This seems to me to be a bad move & a sign of the strong fundamentalist / separatistic impulse that still carries weight in our denomination.

37/

Finally, even though I had to miss worship on Tuesday and Wednesday night due to my work on overtures, I heard that the sermon Wednesday night was incredible. I look forward to watching it here: livestream.com/accounts/85219…

38/

The #pcaga demonstrates that we are both a deeply flawed church filled with sinners while also being God’s beloved people through whom many wonderful and beautiful works of God are being accomplished.

39/

I know many have been hurt by our churches through racism, abuse, and plain old failures to love people well. We must continue to confront one another, repent, and turn to the Lord in humility.

40/

I also believe that as we approach 50 years as a denomination, we’re becoming more mature, safe, diverse, & mission oriented.

41/

As the Stated Clerk reported, despite COVID, we’re still planting churches, sending&supporting missionaries, helping Ukrainians, evangelizing & discipling college students, and much much more.

42/

As with most communities, the internet environment highlights the worst aspects of the PCA and makes it hard to see the good going on, but by God’s grace, the Lord has done great things for & through us, and we have every reason to be glad.

43/end (for now)

An elder reached out privately to point out that I spoke very broadly here & lumped all supporters of O8 together. To clarify, not all supporters were hastened by the GJ case. Many (me included), believe these chapters need fixing for general use to exercise proper discipline.