Presbyterianism

From Covenant to Confessional

Philip Ryan
Nov 23, 2024
I shouted over the many voices crammed into the Twin Lakes cafeteria, “I went to Covenant!” The man was likely the same age as me and looked very confused by this answer. “How did you end up here?” I am sure he meant well. I know exactly why he was confused. The seminary/denominational tribalism...

A Directory of Worship for the PCA?

Terry L. Johnson
Aug 5, 2024
A Directory of Worship for the PCA? The PCA’s “Directory for Public Worship” ( DPW ) has been in constitutional limbo since its adoption at the Third General Assembly in 1976. Book of Church Order 56-58 have full constitutional authority (sacraments and membership), while Book of Church Order 47-55...

Power for Missions Restored

Philip DeHart
Apr 22, 2019
Since the early 19 th Century the American church has largely taken for granted the necessity and legitimacy of mission agencies, both church and para-church. By the mid 20 th Century they were as firmly entrenched as any feature of American church life. But a surprising deja-vu moment occurred...

Taking Exception

Guy Waters
Jul 3, 2018
At the 2018 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Committee on Review of Presbytery Records (CRPR) presented its annual report. The Assembly tasks this committee with reviewing the minutes of each of the PCA's Presbyteries. CRPR relays to the Assembly any constitutional...

Taking Exception

Guy Waters
Jul 3, 2018
At the 2018 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Committee on Review of Presbytery Records (CRPR) presented its annual report. The Assembly tasks this committee with reviewing the minutes of each of the PCA's Presbyteries. CRPR relays to the Assembly any constitutional...

Taking Exception

Guy Waters
Jul 3, 2018
At the 2018 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Committee on Review of Presbytery Records (CRPR) presented its annual report. The Assembly tasks this committee with reviewing the minutes of each of the PCA's Presbyteries. CRPR relays to the Assembly any constitutional...

Is the PCA Becoming More Unified?

Richard D. Phillips
Jun 25, 2018
Some years ago, our friend Terry Johnson (senior pastor of Savannah's Independent Presbyterian Church) wrote an article suggesting an opportunity for constructive dialogue in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Terry classified the two main PCA camps in positive terms, seeing some brothers as...

Considering Exceptions

Stephen Tipton
Jan 23, 2018
It is not uncommon for ministers in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) --the denomination in which I pastor--to lament a lack of doctrinal uniformity among fellow pastors in our denomination. It is also not uncommon for ministers in the denomination in which I minister to lament the...

A Vital Call for the Vitals of Religion

Brian Tallman
Sep 14, 2017
In the denomination in which I serve as a minister--The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)--we have confessional standards to which all our ministers voluntarily agree to submit, subscribe, and support. The language we use to describe this action is that of adoption . He must, our Book of Church...

The Public Reading of Scripture--Presbyterian-Style

Brian Tallman
Feb 6, 2017
In 2011, the session of the church that I pastor sought to educate and assist the members of the church regarding proposed changes that we had decided to make to an important aspect of our corporate worship services. Prior to these changes, unordained men would regularly lead the congregation in...