The 49th General Assembly was called to order Tuesday evening, June 21. In attendance were 1,634 teaching elders and 751 ruling elders, for a total of 2,385 commissioners.
PCA Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell gave his report to the Assembly. Highlights of that report are given below.
John Bise, ruling elder from Providence Presbytery, was elected moderator. Please read byFaith’s story about his election here.
Following Bise’s election, the Assembly voted to ratify six changes to the Book of Church Order that were passed by the 48th General Assembly and approved by more than two-thirds of the presbyteries:
Item 1 would amend BCO 12-6 and 13-4 to allow presbyteries and sessions to establish rules for holding virtual meetings.
Item 3 would amend BCO 20-4, 24-3, and 24-4 to clarify that the election of a pastors, elder or deacon requires a majority of votes cast rather than a majority of members present.
Item 5 would amend BCO 22-2 to allow an Assistant Pastor to be elected as Associate Pastor by the congregation he currently serves upon recommendation of the Session without the election of a pulpit committee.
Item 6 would amend BCO 24-1 to clarify that a session has discretion on the timing of some parts of the exam of officer nominees.
Item 7 would replace the current BCO 32-20, which requires a church court to commence process against a member in a case involving scandal within one year with a provision that would allow a person accused of an offense to object to its consideration and provide direction to the court about how to consider such an objection.
Item 8 would amend BCO 38-1 to specify what may be considered when a judgment is rendered in a case without process (in which a person comes forward to make an offense known).
Read more here.
The Assembly concluded its first session by by acting on current overtures related to the Rules of Assembly Operation (RAO):
It voted to answer Overture 24, Amend RAO 11-2 and 11-10 to Clarify Who May Submit an Overture, in the affirmative. The vote was 1272-37. Read the text of the overture here.
The Assembly answered Overture 32, Amend RAO 8.4 to Add an Item to the Annual Report of the GA Nominating Committee, in the negative. The vote was 876-458. Read the overture text here.
PCA Stated Clerk’s Report
In his opening report, PCA Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell noted several facts “at which we should not blink.” Citing Christianity Today, Chapell pointed out:
The average age of PCA members is 55. We are fourth oldest among major denominations, but the oldest among Evangelical denominations (roughly the same as the Southern Baptists and slightly older than the Assemblies of God).
As the Covid-pandemic lingers, we are facing our third consecutive year of slight decline in membership.
And while professions of faith grew by about 1000, we’re still not back to pre-Covid levels. On average, attendance at our local churches is 60 to 80% of pre-Covid attendance.
The consequence of all these dynamics is that most churches are experiencing “the great attendance shuffle.” Most of our churches have lost some people and gained others. This is not all bad. As one researcher writes, “Perhaps the most positive consequence that will transpire in the post-Covid world will be the powerful resurgence of evangelism in local congregations….
We will need that resurgence. While the PCA hasn’t experienced huge downturns in membership, we still minister in a nation where average church attendance is half of what it was 20 years ago.
So, with so much against the progress of the gospel, from where does our hope come? “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and the earth” (Ps. 121:1). What has He provided this church so that we may participate in the great resurgence of the gospel that is needed?
Strong ministry corps. The average age of our active ministers is 51. This is far younger than most mainline denominations and many Evangelical ones. We have experienced and able ministers ready for leadership for the challenging years ahead.
Church planting efforts. These remain vigorous. Prior to Covid, we were planting churches at the rate of roughly one new mission per week. Downstream of the worst of Covid, we are planting at the rate of one new mission every two weeks due to the courage, tenacity, and faith of primarily younger ministers and their families.
Generous resources. Remarkably, despite some early pandemic shudders, church giving has been strong overall. Total PCA disbursements were up $25 million, approaching $1 billion. Total contributions were down $43 million last year due to some unusually large gifts in 2020 but are still trending up significantly for the 5-year period. Despite the downturn in church attendance due to Covid, giving in most of our local churches has stayed strong.
We are still learning to be Presbyterian in our corporate mission. Less than half of PCA churches report that they give to any PCA mission, cause, or agency, but those who are committed to the corporate work of the church are seeing tremendous fruit from their giving. One example is the $4 million that has been specially given toward Ukraine relief efforts. Among the uses for these funds, the PCA has been supporting Ukrainian ministers who in the early days of the Russian invasion were smuggling people out of occupied cities, and who now are smuggling food into occupied cities at the risk of their own lives.
Covenant children. For understandable reasons, Sunday School attendance dropped significantly during the Covid years, but infant baptisms are again near pre-Covid levels. We remain doctrinally committed to the Scriptural emphasis on the covenant home. This is not abstract theology. God works in families, and the primary means of gospel multiplication through the centuries is faith passed generation upon generation.
A Mission Heart. Our founding fathers had an extraordinarily wise plan for multiplying the influence of our Biblical and Confessional commitments, believing that these were the foundation of faithful obedience, worship, and mission. Under presbytery oversight, churches would be the engine of a faith movement with sound doctrine, teaching, and gospel outreach, preparing God’s people to honor and serve him.
AIC Report on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault (DASA)
The General Assembly reconvened at 9:30 a.m., on June 22, and heard the report from the Ad Interim Committee on Domestic Abuse and Sexual Assault.
The committee offered no recommendations, but offered the following advice to sessions, presbyteries, and PCA agencies:
- That all Elders in the Presbyterian Church in America assiduously study this report and consider its advice when shepherding the flock of God;
- That Presbyteries and Sessions consider using this report to train their members and those seeking ordination in the PCA in order to be ready for situations that will likely arise during their ministries;
- That Sessions consider using this report to inform their congregational members so that they will be better able to protect, identify and respond well to abuse when it arises;
- That all Presbyteries, Churches, and other ministries in the PCA develop robust policies for both the prevention of and response to abuse;
- That competent third parties be engaged by Presbyteries, Churches, and other PCA ministries when allegations of abuse arise;
- That Presbyteries, Churches, and other PCA ministries share information regarding helpful pastoral, sessional and third-party resources, and regularly set aside funds for engaging those that can provide competent assistance and, if necessary, conduct investigation of alleged abuse;
- That all Ministers, Elders, Presbyteries, Sessions, Permanent Committees and Agencies, and all other PCA ministries inform themselves as to the particular laws regarding mandatory reporting to the civil magistrate in their civil jurisdictions; and
- That a permanent committee or agency of the PCA consider forming an office of abuse prevention and response in order to serve the denomination when needs arise.
- That the 50th General Assembly of the PCA receive overtures from the lower courts to perform a denomination-wide assessment of the state of abuse in the PCA. One aspect of the overtures might be to create a committee tasked with overseeing the work.
Read more about the committee’s work here and here.
Withdrawal From the National Association of Evangelicals
During the report of the Interchurch Relations Committee, the Assembly voted to answer Overture 3, Withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals, in the affirmative. The vote was 1030-699.
Committee on Constitutional Business Controversy
In the course of its report, the Committee on Constitutional Business (CCB) reported that the minutes of the Standing Judicial Commission were found to be without exception by a committee vote of 6-2. The dissenting members wished to substitute their opinion, that there were two exceptions related to the Greg Johnson case, in place of the CCB’s conclusions. The CCB chair raised a point of order that, as CCB recommends no actions, minority reports of CCB members cannot be substituted for the Committee report. The moderator ruled the point of order was “well taken.” His decision was challenged. After debate, the ruling of the chair was sustained by a vote of 970-856.
Overtures Committee
The Assembly voted on 35 overtures from the Overtures Committee. The Assembly voted to answer the following overtures in the affirmative:
2021-19, Amend BCO 38-1 & 42-2 to Allow Appealing a Censure in a Case without Process.
2021-20, Amend BCO 31-10 and 33-4 on Pre-trial Non-Disciplinary Suspensions, as amended.
Overture 6, Amend BCO 31-10 and 33-4 Regarding Suspensions during Process or Delay, was answered with reference to the Assembly’s actions on Overture 2021-20.
2021-21, Amend BCO 42-6 on Vote Required for Maintaining Censure during an Appeal.
Overture 7, Amend BCO 42-6 Regarding Suspending Judgment during Appeal, was answered with reference to the Assembly’s actions on 2021-21.
Overture 2021-35, Amend BCO 38-1 re Counsel for Case Without Process, in the affirmative as amended.
Overture 2021-40, Amend BCO 32-13 and 35-5 to Allow Victim Protection Provisions, in the affirmative as amended.
Overture 13, Petition United States Government to End Abortion, as amended.
Overture 21, Amend BCO 43-2 and 43-3 Regarding Timing for Considering a Complaint, as amended.
Overture 24, Amend RAO 11-2 and 11-10 to Clarify Who May Submit an Overture.
Overture 25, Amend BCO 15-1 and 15-3 to Clarify Role of Presbytery Commission, as amended.
Overture 27, Amend BCO 15-1 and 15-3 To Clarify Role of Presbytery Commission, by reference to its actions on Overture 25.
Overture 28, Amend BCO 8-7 by Adding Chaplain Endorsement Requirements and Recommendations, as amended.
Overture 29, Amend BCO 16 by Adding 16-4 Regarding Qualifications for Church Office, as amended. The vote was 1922-200. The amended language is as follows:
16-4 Officers in the Presbyterian Church in America must be above reproach in their walk and Christlike in their character. While office bearers will see spiritual perfection only in glory, they will continue in this life to confess and to mortify remaining sins in light of God’s work of progressive sanctification. Therefore, to be qualified for office, they must affirm the sinfulness of fallen desires, the reality and hope of progressive sanctification, and be committed to the pursuit of Spirit-empowered victory over their sinful temptations, inclinations, and actions.
The Assembly answered Overtures 12, 20, 23, 33, 34, and 35 with reference to Overture 29.
Overture 31, Amend BCO 21-4 and 24-1 by Adding Paragraphs Regarding Requirements for Ordination, in the affirmative as amended.
Overture 15, Amend BCO 7 to Disqualify from Office Men Identifying as Homosexual, as amended. This was the position of the minority report.
The new paragraph BCO 7-4 would read as follows:
Men who describe themselves as homosexual, even those who describe themselves as homosexual and claim to practice celibacy by refraining from homosexual conduct, are disqualified from holding office in the Presbyterian Church in America.
Overture 8, Amend BCO 33-1 and BCO 34-1 Establishing Percentage Threshold for Original Jurisdiction Requests, in the affirmative as amended.
The Assembly voted to answer the following overtures in the negative:
Overture 2, Amend BCO 22-3 to Allow Assistant Pastors to file Complaints against Sessions.
Overture 11, Amend BCO 25-2.e and Add a New Item BCO 25-2.f, New Percentage Threshold for Calling Large Church Congregational Meetings.
Overture 14, Change the Composition of the SJC by Amending BCO 15-4 and RAO 17-1; Amend OMSJC 5.1 and 6.1.
Overture 16, Amend BCO 25-2 to Require Annual Congregational Meeting and Reporting Standards.
Overture 17, Amend BCO 32-3 to Require Open Proceedings for Trials.
Overture 19, Amend BCO 15-2 Regarding Presbytery Commission Membership and Quorum.
Overture 26, Statement On Political Violence
Grounds: While the subject of political violence is disturbing to our country and to Christ’s Church, the substance of this overture is better dealt with at a local church or presbytery level rather than as a statement from the General Assembly, which would reflect the ‘grassroots’ nature of our denomination. Scripture and our Confession already answer many of the concerns in this overture. Furthermore, in conformity with (BCO 3-3) which speaks of the church being distinct from the civil commonwealth, this overture seems unwise and unnecessary.
Overture 42, Forbid TE and RE Participation in “Political Groups.”
Grounds: This Overture is broad enough to raise questions about private conversations between elders that are appropriate as they prepare for issues at presbytery and General Assembly, and even of “political groups” like those that helped found the PCA.
The Assembly voted to take other actions on the following overtures:
Refer Overture 30, Amend BCO 6-5, 20-3, 25-1, and 24-3, Allowing Congregations to Establish Voting Age Restrictions, back to Pittsburgh Presbytery without prejudice, but with attention to the Committee on Constitutional Business’s report.
Refer Overture 2021-34, Amend BCO 38-1 re Confession Timing for Case Without Process, back to Pacific Northwest Presbytery without prejudice.
Refer Overture 2021-41, Amend BCO 35-1 to Expand Potential Witness Eligibility, to the 50th General Assembly.
Answer Overture 41, Declare Critical Race Theory Flawed, by postponing the matter indefinitely.
According to Robert’s Rules of Order, “Postpone Indefinitely is a motion that the assembly decline to take a position on the main question. Its adoption kills the main motion (for the duration of the session) and avoids a direct vote on the question. It is useful in disposing of a badly chosen main motion that cannot be either adopted or expressly rejected without possibly undesirable consequences.”
Agency and Committee Reports
The following are highlights from the PCA agencies and committees written and oral reports to the General Assembly.
Report of Discipleship Ministries (CDM)
The General Assembly has tasked the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM) to strengthen the local church to make disciples by connecting leaders to the people and resources they need. Our desire is to see PCA churches develop ministries that are Word-based and relationally-driven.
Discipleship Ministry to Children
The CDM staff and Children’s Ministry (CM) Team continue to add resources to the GROW web site (grow.pcacdm.org) designed to help staff and volunteers with training and encouragement.The CDM CM Certification program continues to bless individuals and churches. The 2021 class was the largest so far, with 38 students completing the requirements Over 100 leaders are now certified. They have come from 31 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada. Students have ranged from 22 to 68 years old, representing churches of all sizes. Though most are PCA, there have also been participants from other denominations.
2022 marks a transition for Ms. Sue Jakes. After more than 20 years of service to the PCA as Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Ms. Jakes has passed the baton of leadership to Ms. Katie Flores, who is a member of Covenant PC in Birmingham, AL.
Discipleship Ministry to Youth
Team members have launched a podcast (“PCA Nextgen” on iTunes and Spotify). Recent topics include isolation in ministry, working with difficult people, leadership in student ministry, and resilience in student ministry. Members are also uploading resources to the Nextgen website (www.pcanextgen.com).
Upcoming training opportunities include a conference for student ministry workers October 10-13, 2022, hosted by New City PC in Ferndale, MI (Detroit area).
Discipleship Ministry to Men
The Men’s Ministry Team is developing a coaching program to help churches begin or revitalize a discipleship ministry to men that is Word-based and relationally-driven.
Discipleship Ministry to Women
Since the Summer 2021, almost 5,000 women have used the CDM study “What’s SHE Doing Here? The Messy Women in Jesus’ Genealogy.” For 2022, CDM will offer “Breathe,” which is a book and video study on the Lord’s Prayer. Heather Molendyk has adapted part of her Little Pillars study to be a companion study for children.
The enCourage blog and podcast (encourage.pcacdm.org) continues to be a blessing for many. The blog has over 8,250 monthly readers from around the world; the podcast averages 1,250 listeners weekly.
In the Fall of 2021, CDM launched the “WE” ministry (“Wives of Elders”). Ms. Meaghan May now serves on the staff as the PCA Elders’ Wives Liaison. In that role, she partners with other PCA Committees and Agencies to equip and encourage the wives of teaching and ruling elders. To get more information about the opportunities of this new ministry, go to pcacdm.org/we/.
Mission to the World
Mission to the World is called to be obedient to the Great Commission by teaching people to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, to be baptized, and to obey all that Jesus commands.
To answer that calling, three new programs/efforts have been created and implemented:
New Missionary Onboarding Process — This past year we revamped our onboarding process for new missionaries. In the past, we held a week-long orientation when missionaries were first approved and then provided various training events prior to departure. Our new onboarding process, which we are calling Kingdom Foundations, begins with a week-long orientation but then continues with cohorts of four to five new missionary units meeting together for mentoring, training, and mutual encouragement for 10 months.
Praxis Global Gathering — As the training modules were being developed for Kingdom Foundations, a question emerged: “What ties all of our training modules together?” While we certainly have been directed by our MTW policy manual and our church constitution, we thought it would be helpful to draft a philosophy of ministry document that connects our standards, vision, mission, and values to local implementation of missions. This is not a directive document, but an informative one that will be used to help those creating our training.
New Missionary Compensation Structure — Another milestone was the implementation of a much-needed change to our missionary compensation structure, which went into effect in January 2022.
MTW’s full report also provides ministry and strategic highlights from around the globe.
Mission to North America
2021 was a year of leadership transition for Mission to North America (MNA). On September 1, 2021. TE Irwyn Ince began serving as MNA Coordinator Pro Tempore following a unanimous vote by the MNA Committee.
His election was affirmed by the 2022 Assembly. TE Ince is the first African American to serve as Coordinator of a PCA Committee or Agency.
MNA 2021 Selected Highlights
Ministry among Ethnic Minority Groups saw growth through church planters, pastors, and ministry candidates added to the PCA among African American, Hispanic, Korean American, Native American, and Haitian Americans.
Seven ministries in particular were highlighted by MNA:
The PCA Unity Fund has awarded a total of 274 seminary scholarships. In 2021 the amount awarded for minority candidates seeking ordination rose to $3,250 each. At the Unity Fund’s inception those scholarships were $1,100 each. Additionally, the Unity Fund provided 22 scholarships to assist minority Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders to attend the 48th General Assembly.
Refugee and Immigrant Ministry, led by Director Pat Hatch responded to increased interest resulting from the evacuation of 70,000+ Afghans to the U.S. by providing connections to the nearest refugee resettlement agencies in their areas, online resources, print resources and training options.
English as a Second Language (ESL), led by Director Nancy Booher, saw 26 New ESL Ministries launched through 33 ESL Trainings during 2021 (21 in-person, 12 virtual). Additionally, an MNA ESL Zoom School was designed for students who live in foreign countries.
Engaging Disability with the Gospel, led by Director Ashley Belknap conducted 315
consultations with individuals and churches. A variety of live and recorded trainings were conducted for church disability ministry leaders, children’s ministry leaders and others.
MNA Metanoia Prison Ministries, led by Director Mark Casson, added a new regional director for Central Florida, and conducted 15 trainings with 49 mentors trained. Over 15 ministry presentations were conducted, resulting in over 100 new volunteers for either Correspondence Ministry or in-person mentoring.
MNA Disaster Response, led by Director Arklie Hooten, continued the annual practice of mobilizing thousands of volunteers to respond to the needs of people experiencing hurricanes, tornadoes, fires and floods. Warehouse service was expanded by opening a new site in Dallas. Even with some travel and meeting restrictions continuing during 2021, major volunteer responses were mobilized after hurricanes, tornadoes and flooding throughout the year.
Chaplain Ministries, led by Coordinator Jim Carter, currently endorses the highest number ever of military chaplains and chaplains serving in civilian institutions.
Reformed University Fellowship
RUF exists because, its website states, “ministry to colleges represents an essential part of the mission of the Presbyterian Church in America.” The college years, RUF notes, have increasingly become a time for questioning authority, scrutinizing absolutes, throwing out old premises, and reinventing the self. Students must learn to navigate the milieu of converging thought.
Reformed University Fellowship is thankful to be part of this unfolding campus narrative to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve.
Domestically, RUF has grown to 148 campuses staffed by more than 400 campus ministers, campus staff, and interns. RUF ministries are now present in 41 states.
RUF engages these students and campuses with a fixed theology (The Bible and Westminster Standards) and a flexible methodology that allows us to contextualize to suit various campus personalities and demographics.
In addition to its growth throughout the country, RUF has, in recent years, seen growth internationally. Including:
Reformed University Fellowship International
There are currently 18 RUF-International campus ministries. We recently started our 18th ministry at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. RUF-I has 17 ordained campus ministers, six campus staff, two campus minister assistants, five interns, and two seminary interns. Chris Morrison is the first RUF-I Area Coordinator, and he began on June 1, 2020. We have a total of 33 people now working with RUF-International.
Reformed University Fellowship Global
There are currently 7 RUF-Global campus ministries worldwide (Mexico City, Mexico, Bogota, Colombia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dakar, Senegal, Tokyo, Japan, L’viv, Ukraine, and Granada, Spain). In Bogota, we have two Colombian interns and two American interns serving on the team.
A final important milestone for the ministry has been the return of Summer Conference. After two years, RUF returned to Laguna Beach Christian Resort for SuCo2022! The ministry welcomed RUF students from all over the country for four weeks, with Harvard University Campus Minister Michael Whitham serving as the Summer Conference Director.
Geneva Benefits Group (RBI)
The Committee on PCA Retirement & Benefits ( RBI) announced that it had officially changed its name to Geneva Benefits Group. Read more about the change here.
Several years ago, Geneva launched ServantCare, a counseling ministry for PCA pastors. In 2021 we converted that Relief ministry program into an enrolled employee benefit. We currently have 335 enrolled and an average of 61 sessions being used each month (since inception).
Perhaps never in the recent past has the need for counseling pastors and ministry workers been so great. In 2022, we will significantly redesign the counseling benefit. The new benefit will be more affordable and provide more subsidized counseling sessions.
We have also begun to expand our work in pastoral wellbeing. We have conducted research to learn what will best help our pastors and ministry workers thrive. We have also consulted with presbyteries, sessions, and pastors on life-giving practices such as sabbaticals, access to counseling and coaching, and other practices.
In 2022 we have been piloting a health plan to assess the potential of making it available to our whole denomination. While our polity makes such an effort challenging, we recognize that medical insurance is the single greatest need among our pastors and ministry workers.
New Partners
Several other denominations have asked to partner with Geneva Benefits Group. In September of 2021 we enrolled over 200 Associate Reformed Presbyterian Churches into the retirement plan. In January of 2022 we began enrolling Korean American Presbyterian Churches.
PCA Foundation
The PCA Foundation distributed, or granted to ministry, $25.0 million during 2021. Distributions to PCA churches were $14.4 million, distributions to PCA Committees and Agencies were $2.1 million, and distributions to other Christian ministries were $8.5 million.
We continue to look for opportunities to work with PCA churches and their members, and are desirous of serving with individuals and their families in making Kingdom grants. We intend to implement in 2022 a monthly matching grants program for the benefit of every committee and agency of the PCA.
Mission to the World $323,000
Mission to North America $350,000
CDM $24,000
Administrative Committee $197,000
RBI-Ministerial Relief $59,000
RUF $341,000
Covenant College $96,000
Covenant Seminary $190,000
PCA Foundation $415,000
Ridge Haven $111,000
Total – committee & Agencies $2,106,000
PCA Churches $14,364,000
Other Christian Ministries $8,577,000
Total $25,047,000
Covenant College
In the fall of 2020, as a result of the market blow delivered by COVID-19, Covenant College welcomed 224 new students who came from 33 states and 7 countries. This was the smallest incoming class in over a decade.
Over the course of the 2020-21 academic year, we welcomed 1214 prospective student visitors to campus from 41 states and 5 countries, though COVID-19 protocols prevented us from hosting overnight visitors.
Development & Finances
Donors generously gave over $6.1 million to Covenant during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, including gifts to the IMPACT Endowment Campaign, scholarships for students, and support for operations of the college. The number of churches that gave to Covenant remained steady with 180 churches participating in our Church Scholarship Promise program through their faithful giving. The total amount given by churches in 2020/21 was $824,000.
Student Life
During the Fall 2020 Semester, Nesha Evans, Associate Dean of Students for Student Life, hosted conversations about Culture & Race every other Wednesday. In the spring, the series expanded to include conversations about sexuality and mental health, creating a space for students to wrestle with and ask questions about difficult topics.
Athletics at Covenant College continued to experience success on all fronts.
In the Chapel Department, the COVID-19 restrictions during Fall 2020 severely affected the community mission of chapel – encountering Jesus together in community. So, while the mission remained the same, the mode of chapel changed. Chapels were conducted outside on the chapel lawn, singing with masks on, sitting in distanced lawn chairs, and being encouraged by wonderful speakers.
In the spring of 2021, chapel was back inside, but due to COVID-19 protocol, the attendance was drastically reduced (from roughly 800 students to roughly 100 students). Therefore, most chapels shifted to be more conversational approaches to the Bible and biblical topics.
Ridge Haven
In 2021, having emerged from two summers affected by COVID, Ridge Haven hosted over 12,000 campers and guests.
Additionally, we are looking forward to a full summer in 2022 as we already are seeing a 54% increase in summer registrants compared to this time last year. Unfortunately, this means we have already had to waitlist many camp sessions. Similarly, we are experiencing a great increase in our staff applicants and are eager to get back to a fully staffed and attended summer at Ridge Haven.
Many camps are struggling to continue finding staff to engage in summer work, and Ridge Haven is no exception. However, we do report great encouragement with the eagerness of our high school students to freely give their time towards ministry. Our Camp Summer Internship (CSI) program has continued to grow each summer. This is an opportunity for high school students to join our team and invest in camp ministry while growing in their walk with the Lord through increasing their knowledge of Him, experiencing a community of like-minded believers, and serving in His Kingdom work.
Our expanding camps and staff are a wonderful problem to have and something that by God’s grace is being supported through our Capital Campaign. At this point, we have been able to raise 91% of our 5.1-million-dollar Capital Campaign.
We have begun construction on our 10,000 plus square foot multi-purpose gym. This new space will provide meeting space for over a thousand people. In addition to this multi-purpose gym, we are adding additional camper and staff housing for the upcoming summer.
Administrative Committee
Among many items in its report, the Administrative Committee announced that the 2023 General Assembly will be held in Memphis, Tennessee. And that the 2024 Assembly will be in Richmond, Virginia.