Howie Donahoe, moderator of the 47th General Assembly, has announced his selections for the Ad Interim Study Committee on Sexuality. The committee members are Teaching Elders Bryan Chapell, Kevin DeYoung, Tim Keller, and Jim Weidenaar, and Ruling Elders Derek Halvorson, Kyle Keating, and Jim Pocta.

The committee has the authority to appoint its own advisory members.

According to the approved overture from Chicago Metro Presbytery, the study committee is to  “study the topic of human sexuality with particular attention to the issues of homosexuality, same-sex attraction, and transgenderism.”

“It’s an honor to appoint such wise, learned and experienced brothers to such a committee,” Donahoe said. “While each man’s views undoubtedly vary to some degree, I’m confident this committee will be unified and will help provide guidance and leadership on the issues — both in the PCA and more-broadly.”

Chapell is Senior Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois, and the founder of Grace Unlimited, a radio and online Bible-teaching ministry. From 1985-2013 Chapell served at Covenant Theological Seminary, first as a professor, then dean of faculty, president, and chancellor. He was moderator of the 2014 PCA General Assembly in Houston and serves on the PCA’s Standing Judicial Commission. 

DeYoung has been Senior Pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Matthews, North Carolina since 2017 as well as assistant professor of systematic theology at Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS) in Charlotte. Prior to moving to Charlotte, DeYoung was senior pastor at University Reformed Church, East Lansing, Michigan, and a Chancellor’s Professor at RTS. He is a member of the General Assembly’s Committee on Administration, and the author of more than a dozen books, including “What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality?” in 2015.

Keller is the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 and pastored for 28 years. He is also the chairman and co-founder of Redeemer City to City (CTC), which starts new churches in New York and other global cities and publishes books and resources for ministry in an urban environment. In 2017 Keller transitioned to CTC full time to teach and mentor church planters and seminary students through a joint venture with the City Ministry Program at RTS.

Since 2012 Weidenaar has worked for Harvest USA, a ministry that helps individuals and families affected by sexual struggles and provides resources addressing biblical sexuality. Currently he serves as director for Harvest USA’s office in the greater Pittsburgh region. His 2011 Ph.D. dissertation is titled, “A Study of Calvin’s Doctrine of Concupiscence with Special Reference to its Place in his Soteriology.” Weidenaar is a member of Pittsburgh Presbytery and worships at First Reformed Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Pittsburgh.

Halvorson, an ordained ruling elder, is now a member at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church and the president of Covenant College. He serves on the boards of the Chalmers Center for Economic Development and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. Before coming to Covenant College in 2012, Halvorson served as president of Providence Christian College and as director of constituent relations and regional director of development at Covenant.

Since January 2013, Keating has taught upper school history and theology at Providence Classical Christian Academy in St. Louis. He also serves as director of student life, athletic director, and the boys varsity basketball coach. Keating was one of three ruling elders on the eight-member Missouri Presbytery committee that reported on Revoice, and Memorial Presbyterian Church, in May 2019. He attends South City Church.

Pocta is a licensed professional counselor who has practiced biblical counseling for over 30 years. He runs his own private practice specializing in depression, anxiety, sexual trauma and abuse, same-sex attraction, and transgender experiences. He is a ruling elder at New St. Peters Presbyterian Church in Dallas and is active in North Texas Presbytery.

This committee is entirely funding by designated contributions. Checks can be mailed to the PCA Administrative Committee, 1700 North Brown, Suite 105, Lawrenceville, GA, 30043.

Please note “Study Committee: Sexuality 2019” in the memo line. Online contributions can be made at  https://www.pcaac.org/get-involved/giving-to-the-pca/. All contributions will be receipted. For questions regarding contributions, call 678-825-1000.