“This revised definition reminds us elders to be outward-facing, to be concerned for those beyond the walls, to be approachable, and to be always mindful that there are people on the fringes of our churches who need to be invited in.”

While it is assumed that the leadership and members of this congregation will play a role in observing the elder and providing feedback to the presbytery (“court”) that will make the decision to remove the censure or not, drafters of the overture believe congregation’s role is not clearly laid out in the current language.

Members of the committee will present their findings, conclusions, and recommendations at General Assembly. Their presentation will be Thursday morning, June 14, at 8 a.m. 

If implemented, the recommendation maintains that a super-majority — in most cases, either two-thirds or three-fourths — of the board members of these agencies be ordained officers in the PCA.

In response to last year’s study committee on Women Serving in the Ministry, Grace Presbytery has submitted an overture to the General Assembly requesting that clarity be given to the language in the Book of Church Order that addresses the diaconate.

“It’s a softer approach to dealing with this issue,” explains Ruling Elder John Pickering. “Churches ought to be free to leave. But they ought to do so having made a carefully thought-out decision, not a hasty decision.”

Calvary and Grace presbyteries have submitted overtures requesting that constitutional status be granted to Book of Church Order (BCO) Chapter 59, titled “The Solemnization of Marriage.”

The 45th General Assembly voted to accept the recommendation that the Racial and Ethnic Reconciliation Study Committee conduct a survey and present its final report to the 46th General Assembly in 2018.

Below are the highlights from the General Assembly proceedings for Thursday, June 15.

The 45th General Assembly voted on three of the nine recommendations from the Ad Interim Study Committee on Women in Ministry.