OPC General Assembly 2025

by on June 16, 2025 | Comment

It is convocation season again! Each summer, Reformed denominations have their national gatherings to weigh, deliberate, and even celebrate various issues going on throughout the churches. The Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly met June 4–10 at Trinity Christian College just outside Chicago. It was a full week and we made slow but successful progress through our agenda.

Before getting to the issues, readers may appreciate a reminder about the structure of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church’s (OPC) assembly. In the OPC, each presbytery is allotted a certain number of delegates, including pastors and ruling elders, to send to the assembly as commissioners. The denomination funds travel and accommodation for the week. These costs are why the OPC assembly is typically on a college campus, as we stay in the dorms—which is just as luxurious as it sounds—and use some larger space to host our meetings. Our assembly is composed of those allotted delegates to allow us to discuss every matter on the assembly floor.

To the issues! This assembly was in some respects low key. We had no highly contentious matters in front of us. I was very thankful and encouraged that throughout our proceedings, a greater sense of unity and harmony seemed to prevail than in previous years. The tension that has colored past challenges did not seem to be with us. As one commissioner at my table commented, “This year seems to be a regular love fest.” Although that perspective might seem cheesy, how glad we should be when, even among serious discussion and at times disagreement, a real sense of affection and comradery predominated our time together.

To keep on theme, in parliamentary terms, I would like to take a moment of personal privilege. The OPC has a reputation for being litigious and argumentative. I have been told by those outside the OPC that we think that “OPC” stands for “the only perfect church.” We certainly have our eccentricities. We definitely face challenges in disciplinary matters that can get us caught in tense situations. Sometimes we can get wrapped around the axle in continuing debate over these things. In my experience, however, I have seen a very warm and united denomination. Although my brothers from other denominations often make jokes about the OPC, I have heard no jokes about our brothers within the OPC. Whatever we have done to make those outside think we have a sense of self-pride, I am sure that almost all of us would lament that. As I transferred into the OPC from another NAPARC denomination, I found a very warm welcome in the OPC. I think we have a tendency of appreciating people apart from ladder climbing and networking. I know there was great sadness for many at the assembly as one of our sister NAPARC denominations did not send a fraternal delegate and forgot to send even a letter of greetings. That sadness, to me, indicates how we have true affection not only for one another but also for our other Reformed brothers in NAPARC and around the world. I take this moment of personal privilege not so much as a defense of the OPC. Rather, I hope that these reflections of a transplant into the OPC might offer some perspective to others that might build brotherly ties even farther.

What are the highlights of the OPC’s assembly in 2025? In some ways, we had no standout issues. So, I want to note some of the more encouraging updates and outcomes from our proceedings.

First, I was impressed yet again with the OPC’s diaconal output. This instance concerned our relief efforts for the hurricane disaster in North Carolina. Although the OPC congregation nearest the flooding did not personally suffer much fallout, they still devised plans for how to help those who lost their homes. With the backing and support of the denominational diaconal board, the OPC helped rebuild homes for numerous families who had lost theirs and would unlikely have been able to afford to rebuild. The videos from the recipients show how much it had helped them to see Christ’s love. We can pray that gospel witness thrives more than ever in the wake of these acts of mercy.

Second, I was encouraged to see the processes of church discipline at work under the Lord’s blessing. We had several issues of complaints and appeals before the assembly. In my opinion, we mostly landed in the right place. The standout instance concerned an individual who had brought a complaint against his session. Without divulging all the details, the complaint was that the session was not teaching a specific position that he held. Arguably, at least, the position he wanted his session to promote would contradict the OPC’s confessional standards. As the assembly spoke to the matter, the individual withdrew his complaint with no intent to bring it back before us.

Several aspects of this occurrence should be encouraging. First, it shows how Christ does work through the courts of his church to bring about good spiritual outcomes. I am not sure that this man came to full repentance over how he had treated his session. After all, they had not prevented him from holding and practicing his view. They just held the line against adopting it as their own. The event was, however, at least a moment of softening where Christ used the church’s processes to bring grace into a situation. Second, it was a moment where pastoral care was on full display. With everything involved, a complaint between a church member and his session could result in bitterness. This complainant’s pastor could have taken the result as a moment of victory that he “won” against the complainant. Instead, he came alongside him and immediately supported him with pastoral affection. If that pastor reads this post, I hope he has a great sense of rewarding commendation for his exemplary conduct.

Third, the assembly received an overture to form a committee to review aspects of our Book of Church Order to propose revisions for clarity, consistency, and cohesion. The assembly established this committee and gave them two years to bring recommendations to the assembly for consideration. I think this overture brings good potential for the OPC to update our BCO to address needs we have today and to make sure that its various parts stand in easy harmony together.

Fourth, as a personal encouragement, I was elected as a member of the OPC’s committee on Christian Education. This committee oversees the OPC’s publications, such as New Horizons, Ordained Servant, and other standalone publications. It also facilitates the Ministerial Training Institute, which provides regular continuing education seminars for pastors in the OPC. It further hosts the various camps and conferences to equip the church, notably the Timothy Conference, which encourages and informs younger men who might be considering pastoral ministry. Some great men are on and have been on this committee. I am not sure that I bring much to the table considering the company this committee keeps. I was, however, honored and humbled that the assembly thought I could make a contribution. I will do my best.

General assemblies are a funny thing. They are an extended period of work, focusing on the business of the church. Usually, that business is more tedious than invigorating. Still, Christ is kind to use these events to oversee his church and push us forward. Let us pray the outcomes of this assembly prove fruitful for the OPC and her ministry.

©Harrison Perkins. All Rights Reserved.

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