PCA GA 51: Summary & 10 Key Decisions

By Pastor George Sayour & Ruling Elder Kevin Miller

It has been one year since the exhilaration of the 5oth Anniversary and with no major controversy brewing, there ere questions about this year’s attendance.  However, over 2100 Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders converged on Richmond, VA for the 51st General Assembly this past week!  And, just like that it is over.

The Assembly opened up on Tuesday, June 11th with the election of Ruling Elder Steve Dowling to be our Moderator for the next year.  Steve was the Moderator of the Overtures Committee last year and he did a fantastic job as Moderator, bringing GA to a close in less time than the esteemed TE Fred Greco last year.

There is so much good going on in the PCA! The Stated Clerk’s Report highlighted key statistics outlining our continued growth and the MNA Report presented their goal of growing the PCA by 1000 churches in 10 years.  In fact, each agency and permanent committee had amazing news of what the Lord is doing in their respective areas.

While there were too many decisions to highlight here, what follows is a summary of 10 key events that took place this week at PCA GA 2024. (video explaining these decisions at bottom of page)

1)  Titles for Officers (Pastor/Elder/Deacon)

Passed by standing vote – Overture is NOW a part of our BCO

ITEM 1: Amend BCO 7-3, regarding titling of unordained people, by the addition of a sentence.

[Overture 26 was answered in the affirmative as amended by the Overtures Committee.]

Passed last year’s assembly and Passed 64 – 14 of Presbyteries this past year.

BCO 7-3. No one who holds office in the Church ought to usurp authority therein, or receive official titles of spiritual preeminence, except such as are employed in the Scripture. Furthermore, unordained people shall not be referred to as, or given the titles of, the ordained offices of pastor/elder, or deacon.

A PROTEST WAS FILED. This will not affect this overtures passage which is effective immediatell

2) Standards for Officers (Biblical Requirements of Chastity & Sexual Purity for Officers),

Passed by standing vote – Overture is NOW a part of our BCO

ITEM 2: Amend BCO 8-2 and 9-3, to require officers ’conformity to Biblical standards for chastity and sexual purity in self-description, by the addition of the underlined wording.

[2023 Overture 23 from Mississippi Valley Presbytery was answered in the affirmative as amended by the Overtures Committee.]

(2023 Overtures 9, 16, 17, and 24 were answered with reference to Overture 23.)

Passed last year’s assembly and  76-2 of Presbyteries this past year.

8-2. He that fills this office should possess a competency of human learning and be blameless in life, sound in the faith and apt to teach. He should exhibit a sobriety 8 and holiness of life becoming the Gospel. He should conform to the biblical requirement of chastity and sexual purity in his descriptions of himself, and in his convictions, character, and conduct. He should rule his own house well and should have a good report of them that are outside the Church.

9-3. To the office of deacon, which is spiritual in nature, shall be chosen men of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly spirit, warm sympathies, and sound judgment, conforming to the biblical requirement of chastity and sexual purity in their descriptions of themselves and in their convictions, character, and conduct.

3) Confessions & Offended Parties

Passed by standing vote – Overture is NOW a part of our BCO

ITEM 3: Amend BCO 38-1, regarding confessions and offended parties, as follow (strike-through for deletions, underlining for new wording).

[2023 Overture 27 from Pacific Northwest Presbytery was answered in the affirmative as amended by the Overtures Committee.]

Passed last year’s assembly and 77-1 of Presbyteries this past year.

BCP 38-1 (adds paragraph 2) In any instances involving a personal offense (BCO 29-3), the court shall attempt to inform the offended person(s) of that part of the Confession the court  deems pertinent to the offense against him or her. The court shall invite the offended person to provide the court comment on the Confession prior to final approval of the Confession by the confessor and the court. The court shall encourage the offended person to enlist the help of an advisor in preparing any such comments. In all instances, the court shall report the way such offended persons were informed of the parts of the Confession pertinent to them.

4) Review of Presbytery Records (RPR) Report (view here)

There were many flags and/or citations were identified resulting from the review of the minutes of all 88 presbyteries including:

1. 1. Lacking clarity when granting exceptions to Teaching Elders regarding the use of images of Christ and paedocommunion.
   2. The handling of complaints by a Presbytery
   3. The sale of church property by a Presbytery
   4. Adherence to the BCO regarding women preaching

5) Nominations – Good men were nominated to our various Agencies and Permanent Committees. For the most part the Nominating Committee’s recommendations were upheld.  The below cases, represent the results of the contested elections where there were floor nominees running against the Nominating Committee recommendations.

• Committee on Constitutional Business (CCB) – TE David Strain
• Interchurch Relations Committee (IRC) Alternate – RE Brad Isbell
• Mission to North America (MNA) – TE Nate Shurden
• Mission to the World (MTW) – TE Kevin Smith
• Covenant College (CC) – RE John Kwasny
• Standing Judicial Commission (SJC) – TE Jay Bruce

For Full list of Nominees – Nominating Committee GA Report

The Following Overtures were New This Year and pulled out of the Committee Report for discussion and vote.   If an Overture is not listed below, the Assembly approved the the recommendation found in this Overtures Committee CoC Report 2024

6)2024 Overture 17 – Background Check Statement – Approved as Amended.

Passed by voice vote

The original Overture attempted to make Background Checks for Officers mandatory through the BCO.  The Overture was amended and limited to this statement which bears no Constitutional Authority and will not be in the BCO.

Be it resolved that Presbyteries and Sessions are encouraged to adopt policies for conducting background checks on every candidate for office.

Note: There were multiple similar Overtures that were “referred” to this one for their answer.

7) 2024 Overture 3 – Attempt to Constitutionalize BCO 53 “The Preaching of the Word”

failed 857-906-13

If this had passed it would have given BCO 53 on The Preaching of the Word Constitutional Authority and it clarified that only ministers or qualified men may be allowed to preach.

Note: Chapters 47-63 of the BCO are part of The Directory of the Worship of God and have NO Constitutional Authority except for BCO Chapters 56-58, & 59-3.

8) Overture 13 – to declare “Biblically Faithful” the Letter & Statement Condemning Gender Reassignment 

passed 985-727-35

“That the 51st 9 General Assembly commend as biblically faithful the letter written by the PCAGA50 Moderator’s Commission, humbly petitioning leaders of the United States Government “to protect the lives and welfare of minor children from the physical, mental, and emotional harms associated with medical and surgical interventions for the purpose of gender reassignment.”

9) Overture 33 – commit Jesus Calling book to CDM and MTW.

passed (947-834-20)

The Original Overture included rationale and called for a Study Committee.  The Amended Overture does not include a Study Committee and reads as follows:

“Therefore be it resolved that the General Assembly request reports to be returned to the 52nd General Assembly from the permanent committees of the two agencies most connected with the Jesus Calling book.

From the permanent committee for the Committee on Discipleship Ministries, a brief report that will:

1. 1. Examine the history of the CDM’s relationship with the book and outline its 24 reasons for withdrawing the book from its inventory previously and not offering it for sale since.
   2. Assess the book’s appropriateness for Christians in general and PCA members and congregations in particular with special regard for its doctrine and method.
   3. Provide recommendations (if needed) for remedial materials, advisory statements, or General Assembly actions concerning Jesus Calling.

And from Mission to the World, a brief report that will:

1. 1. Examine MTW’s relationship with the book, knowledge of its content, and any counsel given to the author.
   2. Consider actions that MTW and the General Assembly should take in light of this study of the book and of the agency’s relationship to it.”

Christianity Today Reports on this development

Jesus Calling Article by the Author of this Overture

Jesus Calling Interview on Why He Wrote this Overture on Presbycast

10) Overture 1 – Attempt to allow Atheists to testify in Church Courts for 2nd Year in a Row.

 950-750-34 The Assembly voted with the Overture’s Committee Rec. to NOT allow atheists to testify.

For the second year in a row, both the Overtures Committee and the General Assembly failed attempts to allow atheists to testify in Church Courts.  The Overture would have also allowed atheists to testify without an oath.

BONUS – The GRN Banquet had 1000 ticketed attendees to hear Dr. Rosaria Butterfield as well as what is going on with the GRN.  There were approximately 700 out of the 1000 attendees who were at the Banquet were also Teaching Elder and Ruling Elder commissioners to the General Assembly. That’s 1/3 of the overall registered commissioners.