Video: John Thomson and the Shaping of American Presbyterianism with Stephen A. Fix

Heidelblog

on November 14, 2025 | Comment

If you are looking for a deep dive into the history of early American Presbyterianism, you have come to the right place! Listen in as Kevin talks with pastor, scholar, and writer S.A. Fix—who goes by the name Fix (really he does)—as . . . Continue reading →

DeYoung On The “Soft Establishment” Of The American Revisions

Heidelblog

on September 29, 2025 | Comment

Since publishing my article in 2024, several responses have argued that the difference between the two versions of WCF 23:3 is only a matter of emphasis and not an actual contradiction. Other ministerial colleagues in the PCA have argued that although the . . . Continue reading →

How Presbyterians Shifted On Church-State Relations

Heidelblog

on August 27, 2025 | 6 Comments

I am not suggesting that American Presbyterians of the eighteenth century would approve of the political arrangement of the twenty-first century. Surely, in many respects they would not. They assumed an overwhelmingly Protestant nation where Catholics and (more so) Jews could be . . . Continue reading →

PCA Christian Nationalism Study Committee Announced

Heidelblog

on August 6, 2025 | Comment

Kevin DeYoung, moderator of the 52nd General Assembly, has selected the elders to serve on the Ad Interim Study Committee on Christian Nationalism. The committee will consist of three teaching elders, four ruling elders, and two advisory members. The committee members are . . . Continue reading →

The Incredible Shrinking Mainline

Heidelblog

on July 22, 2025 | 1 Comment

In 2008, I commented on a post by the Aquila Report: “The PCUSA continues its statistical decline. As a firm believer in Scottish revivals I might be tempted to take this as a sign of health but, in this case, it doesn’t . . . Continue reading →

The American Presbyterians Were Correcting The Tradition

Heidelblog

on July 18, 2025 | Comment

I’ve written before about how Presbyterians changed their views on the civil magistrate and how this shift is reflected in the American revision of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). When the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America adopted the . . . Continue reading →

Tennessee Valley Overture On Christian Nationalism

Heidelblog

on May 16, 2025 | 1 Comment

Whereas, the duties of Christian citizenship are often disputed and prove perennially difficult for both elders and church members to discern; and Whereas, confusion exists about the proper relation between church and state; and Whereas, due to recent movements, publications, popular teachings, . . . Continue reading →

Machen Was Right

Heidelblog

on May 15, 2025

The old mother kirk of American Presbyterianism holds treasures of the mind and heart that few have ever seen. She has lived through a Revolution with England; divided over Black slavery only to be united again; welcomed seceding (Associate and United) Presbyterians . . . Continue reading →

Defenders Of Orthodoxy Are Always Castigated As Mean

Brad Isbell

on May 12, 2025 | 2 Comments

As early as 1925, Machenism was a codeword for BIG FAT CHURCH MEANIE-PANTS EXTRORDINAIRE . . . only two years after Christianity and Liberalism was published. It would seem that purveyors of clear and punchy polemic have never gone unpunished in the parlors of the . . . Continue reading →

Harrison Perkins—The Non-Insistent Pastor: Conscience And Submission In History, Theology, And Churchmanship (2)

Heidelblog

on May 2, 2025

This talk is part two of Westminster Seminary California’s Student Association 2025 Spring Convocation. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play Browse the Heidelshop! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The . . . Continue reading →

Harrison Perkins—The Non-Insistent Pastor: Conscience And Submission In History, Theology, And Churchmanship (1)

Heidelblog

on April 25, 2025

This talk is part one of Westminster Seminary California’s Student Association 2025 Spring Convocation. RESOURCES Subscribe To The Heidelblog! Download the HeidelApp on Apple App Store or Google Play Browse the Heidelshop! The Heidelblog Resource Page Heidelmedia Resources The Ecumenical Creeds The . . . Continue reading →

Where Are All The Women?

Brad Isbell

on April 2, 2025 | 13 Comments

We are very reliably informed that a recent visitor to a PCA church circled all the names of the church’s officers in the printed worship bulletin and wrote, “Where are all the women?” on the page, which he or she duly folded and dropped in . . . Continue reading →

Of Militants And Moderates

R. Scott Clark

on March 7, 2025 | 17 Comments

Darryl Hart (as always) has a provocative (in the best sense) article at Old Life.1 His use of the categories “militants” and “moderates” is very useful and helpful. To anticipate a criticism: yes, Reformed people can sometimes be jerks.2 Neither Darryl nor . . . Continue reading →

How the Americans Revised The Westminster Confession Regarding The Magistrate

Heidelblog

on December 10, 2024

The version of the Westminster Confession of Faith used by most Presbyterians in America is not identical with the version approved by the Westminster Assembly in 1646. Most of the differences between the historic text and the text used by the Orthodox . . . Continue reading →

A Question About Redeemer’s Multi-Site Model

R. Scott Clark

on October 11, 2024 | 36 Comments

In response to an article in USA Today on multi-site churches, in which Redeemer Presbyterian (NYC) was featured, Tim Keller offered a brief clarification of Redeemer’s version of the multi-site model.1 As part of that explanation he articulated a premise that strikes . . . Continue reading →

Sauls Leaves PCA, Becomes Egalitarian

Brad Isbell

on August 14, 2024

You might have heard that one of the Presbyterian Church in America’s most notable ministers got in trouble, was suspended by his presbytery, went through a lengthy discipline process, eventually resigned his church, and two days later was restored as a member . . . Continue reading →

Substance And Procedure: A Synopsis Of The OPC General Assembly 2024

Harrison Perkins

on July 9, 2024 | 3 Comments

Every year, the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church meets to consider the business of the church requiring the attention of the whole denomination, this summer meeting at Seattle Pacific University. This report summarizes some of the main conclusions from OPC . . . Continue reading →

For There The Blessing God Commands: ARP General Synod 2024

Aaron De Boer

on July 2, 2024 | 7 Comments

It is hard to imagine a more pleasant experience of fellowship with God’s people on earth than to set them in a temperate mountain environment, overlooking a lake, with morning dew rising into a mist, and the saints vigorously singing the Psalms . . . Continue reading →

A New Decade: Irony Continues At GA 51 (Part 2)

David Hall

on June 14, 2024 | 2 Comments

The more doctrinal wing of the PCA was flexing some muscle in the first half of the week at the 2024 General Assembly, but would it continue through the week? And will that continue beyond this Assembly? Continue reading →

A New Decade: Irony Continues At GA 51 (Part 1)

David Hall

on June 13, 2024 | 1 Comment

As the PCA General Assembly convened on June 11th in the Greater Richmond Convention Center in downtown Richmond, VA, for the first time following its 50th birthday gala, ruling elder Steve Dowling from Southeast Alabama Presbytery was elected as Moderator. He led . . . Continue reading →