Trauma is extraordinary, she says, “not because it rarely happens, but because it swallows up and destroys normal human ways of living.” We have a choice. “We can flit from one cause to another or, like Jesus, we can leave our place of comfort and enter into the suffering.”

Abuse is a pattern of behavior, not a one-time event. The behavior is always intended to preserve the abuser’s power by controlling others. Typically, abuse falls into one of five categories: psychological, physical, economic, spiritual, and sexual.

A total of 1,616 commissioners registered, representing 827 churches from all 88 presbyteries.

Through the process known as “joining and receiving,” the RPCES agencies were folded into their PCA counterparts, except two: Covenant College and Covenant Seminary.

The overture has been referred to the CCB for review of its compatibility with the rest of the constitution and to the Overtures Committee for its recommendation.

Heritage Presbytery finds problematic the guidelines developed that initiate a policy allowing women in MTW to serve in authority over men in the roles of team leader, regional director, and international director.

“For many years, I wasn’t too excited about my husband, so I poured myself into my kids and my church,” Carol says. “I was a great ‘pastor’s wife,’ but not a very good wife to the pastor!”

In Overture 25, Suncoast Florida Presbytery encourages presbyteries, sessions, and diaconates in the PCA “to embrace and provide a supportive posture for Christian education in our churches and communities.”

The overtures cite BCO 15-1 and 14-1.7 as demonstrating that these committees do not exercise the governing authority that is exclusive to ordained elders.

document, titled “Principles of Coordinator Unity,” lays out a commitment to Christian fellowship, love, and transparency that will inform the way the coordinators and presidents interact with each other moving forward.