Are We There Yet?

Connie and I returned from Dallas on Friday afternoon after attending the PCA General Assembly (aka “GA”).  This is the highest court in the denomination that met Tuesday through Thursday.  I’m glad I was able to go.  Here are some miscellaneous thoughts and observations on the week:

The Moderator, Paul Kooistra, did a GREAT job- Dr. Paul Kooistra is the coordinator for Mission to the World.  He was elected the Moderator of the GA for this year.  This is a big deal and significant honor.  He had to moderate one of the largest deliberative bodies in the world utilizing parliamentary procedure (think U.S. Congress, only 2 1/2 times as big).  He handled it with great humility, grace, skill, and good humor.  I think a lot of Dr. Kooistra.  His wife, Jan, died of cancer just four weeks ago.

The biggest issue of the Assembly was… - two Presbyteries requested that the PCA form a study committee on the issue of women serving as Deacons.  There are churches that look to Romans 16:1, where Phoebe is  referred to as a servant, or deacon, and to I Timothy 3:11 where the word translated for “wives” could also mean “women”, as Biblical support for the practice of Deaconesses.  The proposal for such a study committee was rejected.  This issue will certainly surface again in other forms.  I must say the debate was very cordial and without rancor.  This is a credit to the Assembly, the Overtures Committee who was tasked with giving a response to the request that was voted on by GA, and to Dr. Kooistra.

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I wanted to post frequently from here in Dallas at the PCA General Assembly but have had a hard time getting connected.  Finally, I think I have this figured out.

We’ve stayed busy but have enjoyed our time here.  I chaired a committee of commissioners on the work of Reformed University Ministries here at the Assembly which means I’ll give a report to the Assembly tomorrow.  There are over 1100 pastors and elders in attendance here.  Right now, we are hearing reports of the various agencies of the PCA such as Mission to the World, MIssion to North America, Covenant College, Covenant Seminary, and Reformed University Ministries as well as others.

One cool thing is that our hotel is within walking distance from some of Dallas’ historic attractions.  I can see the famous “grassy knoll” of the Kennedy assassination from our window.

I’ll post more later.

Connie and I have an early flight out of Atlanta on Monday headed to Dallas, TX for the PCA General Assembly.  I’ll be serving on a committee of commissioners for Reformed University Fellowship.  The Assembly is the highest level gathering of the PCA held annually and it utilizes committees of commissioners to bring items of business before it as the means to conduct its work.  It’s somewhat similar to the way Congress works, believe it or not.

I’ll be updating the blog from Dallas this week.  Stay tuned.