Considering the 2010 General Assembly

Having been in the ARP since 1998, this was my first General Assembly as a member of the PCA.  I had heard many things, but it was good to see things first hand.  That means the good and the bad.  Inevitably, my mind compares and contrasts everything to my experiences in the ARP.

Some of the differences come from the fact that the PCA is much larger than the ARP.  I was not used to holding up a half sheet of card stock to vote (unless the votes needed to be counted).  We would merely use voice unless the vote was close.  There were differences in terminology:  Memorials => overtures, delegates => commissioners.  No big deal there.  But the sheer size of the documents was so much greater.  There is, comparatively, so much more going on.

One of the additions was a review of all the minutes from all the Presbyteries.  We had to vote on some matters relating to them.  That was interesting.  I was also shocked at the length of the report from the Standing Judicial Commission.  I can count on one hand the number of issues that came up in a decade that went to the ARP Synod’s version.  There were pages of appeals and other judicial issues sent up.  It is a very different culture than the ARP.

I miss going to Bonclarken.  I knew my way around.  I knew were to have a good meal (especially a good Tex-Mex with my friends from Presbytery), and where to enjoy a beer and cigar.  Each year the PCA General Assembly moves.  This year it was Nashville.  I had never been to Nashville.  I did not know my hotel was 3 miles from the convention center until the night before I left.  There was a shuttle to and from the airport, but no mention of one to the convention center.  The hotel desk said there wasn’t one.  So, I had already walked the 3 miles once before I discovered the PCA had provided regular shuttles to my hotel.

I was surprised to find that all of the hotels and the convention center charged for internet access.  Now that we’re “hooked” they want $10/day to access the web.  I needed to get my sermon notes back to Tucson.  Thankfully there was a Panera nearby, and I enjoyed a chai latte and bagel while uploading my document and checking out some sports news.

I found the worship far more accessible and edifying than in the ARP.  Part of that is the fact I did not grow up ARP and our church didn’t use Bible Songs (a holdover from the days before the ARP permitted the use of hymns).  Often the worship is filled with songs I do not know.  Since we were in Nashville, we used numerous hymns by Indelible Grace and similar musicians.  I liked that and found it much easier to engage with the worship.  I did not feel like a fish out of water.

I found how the PCA does business to be similar in many ways.  For instance, both bodies have guys who seemingly speak to EVERY recommendation.  There is also an underlying aura of fear at work in both bodies.  The “slippery slope” and “big brother” seem to never leave some people’s horizons.  I was reminded often of the Swirling Eddies’ song “Knee Jerk“.  People in both denominations have been wounded from experiences with the mainline denomination.  Sadly, those wounds are infected and need to be healed.  Instead, the people nurse and rehearse, therefore look upon many items with unnecessary suspicion.  This is sad, because it doesn’t have to be this way.

Both assemblies are, obviously, filled with sinners.  How we go about our business is tainted by our sin.  And how we listen to the business is as well.  I suppose I should view this as a sanctifying process and seek to grow in patience and diminish in sarcasm.  The constant phrases “point of order” and “motion to recommit” wore me down (as did the lack of sleep).   That is just as much about me as it is about others.

The ARP often has a Pre-Synod Conference.  They bring in a speaker or two to address a pressing issue for the denomination or church at large.  The PCA has seminars in the morning.  It was good to be able to choose what topics I want to address.  They reflected the needs and/or goals of my ministry.  So, I went to:

Harry Schaumburg addressed the connection between spiritual maturity and sexual maturity.  They build upon one another- either positively or negatively.  Harry wrote one of the best books on sexual addiction- False Intimacy– and just wrote a new one, Undefiled: Redemption from Sexual Sin, Restoration for Broken Relationships.  I picked up a copy at the bookstore.

Tim Witmer had a seminar on his book The Shepherd Leader: Achieving Effecting Shepherding in Your Church.  Attendance got you a free copy of the book.  We are in the midst of putting together a shepherding plan.  I’m glad I went, and this material will help us.

Ken Sande had a seminar on church conflict.  It was a good refresher on the basics of the Peace Maker material.  At some point we’ll work through the material.

Show Hope sponsored a seminar on starting an adoption and orphan care ministry in your church.  Steven & Mary Beth Chapman were in China visiting the orphanage Show Hope works with, but there daughter Emily (who started it all) was there.  She was joined by Geoff Moore (who has adopted internationally as well), Scott Roley (Sr. Pastor of Christ Community Church) and Arlin Troyer (another former musician/current pastor who has adopted).  It was great hearing their stories and the stories of other people there.  Chapman & Moore will be touring soon to promote Show Hope.

Scott shared his frustration that there are so few minority leaders in the PCA.  He wants his kids (and the many other adopted kids) to see that.  Perhaps the way God is going to make the PCA reflect heaven racially is through the culture of adoption that has taken root in a growing number of PCA churches.  My prayer is that some of them become leaders when they grow up.  I hope to see my Presbytery catch the vision and develop a fund to assist PCA families wanting to adopt.  But first we have to sort out the details of our next adoption.

Another difference that I found helpful was the exhibit hall.  My Session may not share that since I dropped $100 on books, but it was great to see some new resources.  B&H books gave me a free copy of Ed Stetzer & Thom Rainer’s Transformational Church: Creating a New Scorecard for Congregations.  At SeeJesus they gave away copies of the discussion guide for A Praying Life by Paul Miller  My friend thought I should have the book, too.  I am thankful.

I also found some resources for Men’s Ministry.  Most importantly, I found a company offering group insurance for PCA pastors.  Our son is largely uninsurable, except as part of a group.  So we may have finally found insurance to cover our son.

In terms of the actual business there were 3 main items on the agenda:

1. A request to support the military chaplains as the Armed Forces debate ending the restriction on homosexuals in the military.
2. The PCA Strategic Plan.
3. The question of deaconnesses.

The first was addressed with little debate.  There is more going on with the military’s decision than meets the eye.  The military was rightly used to promote integration.  Gay rights groups are trying to use the same strategy, and have a number of bills ready should military law be changed.  The military law may make it nearly impossible for chaplains, and officers who are Christian to fulfill their duties yet not violate their consciences.

The second was the most controversial.  I was uncertain about some aspects of the plan, but supported it overall.  This despite the fact they did not supply chapter & verse to support it.  I could see how many of the ideas are reflections of Scripture.  Portions of the assembly struggled with 2 things in particular: the change in funding the Administrative Committee, and seeking the counsel of non-PCA groups.

Coming from the ARP, I had little to no understanding how the PCA is funded.  Essentially they have a program called “Ministry Asks” where each agency asks for $x/communing member from each congregation.  It is utterly voluntary.  The Administrative Committee, not being glamorous or having a tangible benefit, is consistently underfunded.  One way this has played out is that I (used to paying about $25-50 to register for Synod) paid $400 to register for General Assembly.

The proposal was to give .25% of non-capital tithes and offerings.  This has a few people upset.  Coming from a place where we gave 10% to the Denominational Ministry Fund, I struggled to understand why they were so upset.  Additionally, each Teaching Elder has to pay $100.  The teeth to the proposal is that failure to pay means that the church or TE only has voice, not vote, at GA.  What they are saying is that connectionalism goes both ways.  They are not removing churches, or elders, from the denomination.  Rather they are providing incentive to participate in the financial life of the church- just like we expect church members to do.

The concept of seeking input from godly people  who are younger, of a different race or background and sex was met with some, I think, ugly opposition.  It was frightening to hear what some people read into that- or left out of that.  Reformed denominations are often beset by pride.  We think we are better than our brothers and don’t need them.  But, just as the ear needs the foot, we need, and can learn from, brothers from different traditions.

The Commissioners’ Committee, while discussing another question asked for 2 representatives of the Korean churches to give input.  The Korean churches have a position that is unordained but vital to how they function.  Older women are appointed to assist the pastor as he works with the women.  The Committee wanted to know how a motion about unordained offices in the church would impact their work.  They did not want to assume anything about Korean church culture and sought counsel.  In this case those they talked to were in the PCA, but there are many issues where we may need to receive advice or encouragement from non-PCA people.

Which brings us to deaconnesses.  The loopholes surrounding unordained, elected or appointed female deacons were closed.  I recently read a blog from a friend who used to be in the PCA.  I am sad that he seems to have misunderstood complementarianism.  This has nothing to do with women being less intelligent, less able to make decisions or incompetent.  Nor does it mean that all women are to submit to all men.  The issue is about how God has ordered families, including his household- the church.

Yet, in this climate I fear that even that can’t be said.  The body of Christ is polarizing such that civil discourse is ending.  This is one of the other things I liked about the strategic plan- civil discourse.  Name calling, unfounded assumptions and the like create unnecessary friction.  But pride makes us think we are right, even when we are dead wrong.  We no longer talk through issues, but talk “at” one another seeking victory rather than understanding.