Last month, the PCA Administrative Committee (AC) approved the “PCA Strategic Plan.” The Plan was produced by the Cooperative Ministries Committee (CMC), which is comprised of the coordinators and presidents of PCA agencies and committees, and the past six moderators of the General Assembly.

Citing slowed growth within the denomination and a shifting cultural landscape, the CMC hopes to create a roadmap to future cohesion and growth within the PCA. Since the Plan’s publication a number of questions have been raised and several comments have come forward.

In the second of a four-part series, byFaith asks three veteran pastors about their reactions: Dr. Michael Ross, senior pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Matthews, N.C.; the Rev. Joseph V. Novenson, senior teaching pastor at Lookout Mountain (Tenn.) Presbyterian Church; and the Rev. A. Randy Nabors, senior pastor of New City Fellowship in Chattanooga, Tenn. All three men see the Strategic Plan as a promising step for addressing the pivotal issues facing the denomination.

“We’re at the stage in our maturity as a denomination where we need to figure out where we are going and how we’re going to get there,” Ross commented. “I hope the Plan will help to bring some synergy for dealing with the challenges of our culture and our times.” A pastor for 28 years, Ross described the Strategic Plan as “a good first step, a survey of issues being faced not only by the PCA but every church and denomination across the country.”

Several key issues are addressed in the Plan: creating “safe places” to discuss and test new ideas; providing “more seats at the table” for various constituencies within the PCA, including younger leaders, women, and ethnic leaders; and determining how best to engage in God's mission together, which includes establishing more stable funding for the Administrative Committee (AC).

A Reminder of the Call to Evangelism

Novenson views the Strategic Plan as a reminder to PCA leaders of the call to evangelism and discipleship. “I definitely found myself convicted that I have broken the Master’s law. We need to repent and be faithful to His call.” A PCA pastor since 1978, Novenson says he is concerned about what’s behind the slowed growth within the PCA. “I’m less concerned about the actual numbers [congregations and total members] than I am about the numbers that represent true conversions, new followers of Jesus.”

Overall, Novenson likes the Plan, though he understands its limits. “The Plan is convicting, and hopefully it will be very valuable in that respect. But the solution, ultimately, is repentance, obedience, and prayer.” That, Novenson observed, will constrain congregations and individual members to address challenges of cultural change with wisdom and definitive action.

Randy Nabors appreciates how the Strategic Plan links the PCA’s slowed growth with cultural shifts. “My entire ministry [34 years at New City Fellowship] I’ve been trying to wave the flag about the existence of multiple ethnic groups that also need the Reformed faith and solid biblical teaching, and who have a hunger for it. Being on the board at Covenant College, a graduate of Covenant Seminary, and involved with Mission to North America (MNA), I have strongly advocated the need to reach out to different ethnic groups and into the cities. There’s a country here that’s changing, and we have to respond to those changes.”

New Avenues for Expression

Providing forums for divergent views to be expressed is important, the pastors agreed, at General Assembly as well as in local presbytery gatherings. “There’s no denying what they [younger people, women, and ethnic leaders] are saying to us,” Michael Ross said. “I know some young leaders are disgruntled. When I was young in the PCA, I felt the same way.”

Ross’ concern, however, is that various constituencies may approach such avenues with “a sense of entitlement,” assuming their concerns will not only be heard but also fully accepted and acted upon. “These forums are the perfect way for various voices to be heard,” Ross said. “Older leaders must overcome reluctance to let younger people into leadership, but at the same time, younger people must honor the older leaders and recognize their contributions. We must not create false expectations for any group.”

In today’s society we have become so quick to speak and express our anger, literally blogging our distress.

Joe Novenson regrets that within the PCA some people have resorted to electronic media—specifically, blogs—to air disenchantment with denominational practices and policies. He believes instituting safe places for dialogue and bringing representatives from opposing groups to the table could help overcome the problem. “We need to be faithful to the admonition in James, to be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry’ (James 1:19). In today’s society we have become so quick to speak and express our anger, literally blogging our distress. It seems we need to create a new word, a sub point of the word ‘gossip’—blogsip.

“The things people say on the Web about other people,” Novenson continued, “they break my heart. We have completely ignored what we’re told in James, and the computer enables us to do this with impunity. So we need safe places, and more people at the table, giving opportunities to express views and concerns in a proper way. Whether this will be sufficient to overcome the increasing fear of being able to express what we think, I don’t know. But these two points are a noble goal.”

Nabors also hopes these forums will foster a freer exchange of ideas. “There is a whole group of people who are intimidated, terrified, or discouraged by the institutionalization of our church. They don’t see it as a place of love, encouragement, and freedom, but rather as constrictive, imposing penalties if you’re seen as out of line.” This dynamic, Nabors believes, “is probably more pronounced than some people realize.” He wonders about some of the attitudes of PCA leaders, asking: “Do we love one another enough to listen to each other?”

Funding of the AC

The Strategic Plan’s proposal for funding the Administrative Committee is needed, the three veteran pastors agreed.

It may be controversial, Ross suggested, “but it’s long overdue—should have been done 15-20 years ago. More glamorous ministries, like MTW, MNA, RUF, even CEP, have no problem getting funding. The Administrative Committee doesn’t sound like missions, but it’s vital and we need to provide for them. My church will be one of those that will have to pony up the most.”

Novenson also believes there might be “some pushback” from longtime members of the PCA who recall fee structures assessed in the previous denomination. “I’m not sure there’s a better way for accomplishing this,” Novenson said. “If those who are more mature in Christ can direct us properly, it’s worth the sacrifice to provide the finances needed.”

Randy Nabors says he is encouraged by the AC funding proposal. He suggests that a tradition of voluntary participation in denominational affairs has led some to believe they’re entitled to benefits without participating financially in the costs of providing those benefits. “I think it’s fair to require that you pay to play. … Our personality as a denomination seems to be that if you’re an agency worthy of our support, you’re going to survive. But if you’re perceived as irrelevant or less favored, you won’t get needed funding. That may be our culture, but we need to find a practical way to fund the Administrative Committee.”

To read the first article in this series please click here.