After five hours of debate, the 2010 PCA Strategic Plan was approved at the PCA’s General Assembly tonight. Key components of the Plan included passage of a model for funding the Administrative Committee (AC) and several new themes and goals for the PCA to “study and reflect” upon.

The three themes specified by the Strategic Plan include: establishing places for civil conversations, providing opportunities for increased involvement, and participating in God’s global mission. Each theme listed a number of means for accomplishing the goal.

The Strategic Plan was debated seriatim (in a series of several sections). The only portion that failed to pass was a specific means under the “increased involvement” theme: “establish standards for voluntary certification of men and women for specific non-ordained vocational ministries.”

The PCA’s Cooperative Ministries Committee developed the 2010 Strategic Plan to provide a roadmap to future cohesion and growth within the denomination, given slowed growth within the PCA and a shifting cultural landscape.

Approved Recommendations

--Affirmed in its entirety--The model of a funding plan for the PCA’s Administrative Committee (AC) will help meet support service needs within the PCA. An annual fee will take the place of the current General Assembly registration fee, and will be required from denominational churches (one-third of one percent of tithes and offerings), teaching elders ($100), and presbyteries ($500). Partnership share giving to other agencies and committees will not change.

--Affirmed in its entirety--The Plan suggests that “civil conversations” be achieved by establishing places where difficult subjects and new ideas can be discussed without a vote (like public forums at General Assembly).

--Affirmed in part--The Plan suggests that “increased involvement” be achieved by providing more opportunities for younger leaders, women, ethnic leaders, and global church representatives to participate in discussions surrounding the PCA (through means such as alternative credentialing).

--Affirmed in its entirety--The Plan suggests that participation in “God’s global mission” be achieved by identifying and supporting national and international efforts help engage the culture and world with Reformed thinking.

“The Plan is trying to break a logjam to help us move forward as a denomination,” said Sam Wheatley, senior pastor of New Song Presbyterian Church in Salt Lake City, Utah. He believes the big-picture analysis of the Plan is essential: “One of our values as a denomination is having a view from 20,000 feet instead of 10 feet, as most pastors do day to day.”

David Coffin, senior pastor of New Hope Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Va., appreciated the themes behind the Plan, though he had reservations about some of the means by which those themes would be achieved. “It’s provocative in a good sense,” he said. “I’m pleasantly surprised that they plunged into [this topic] in such a robust fashion.”