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 →
American Presbyterianism
Substance And Procedure: A Synopsis Of The OPC General Assembly 2024
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
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)
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)
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 →
Eddie Bauer On Creeds, Promises, And Covenants
I continue to learn theology at one of our local malls. Last fall I learned about True Religion. More recently I was at Eddie Bauer. Upon putting away the store receipt, I happened to notice a little blurb on the back titled, . . . Continue reading →
What About Deepfakes?
As technology advances, it is only becoming easier to lie. That statement might be surprising at first glance. With the advent of photography, audio, and video recording, we have gained access to more truth than ever before. We are now able to . . . Continue reading →
What In The World Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT and similar tools that generate text or images are one example of advances in technology that use algorithms built from data rather than being human-handcrafted. You probably have used some of them: Data-generated algorithms can identify faces in photographs, control autonomous . . . Continue reading →
Is Christian Busy-ness A Form Of Legalism?
There is a trend I have been observing over the last ten years or so in our Reformed circles, and now I have been hearing various voices from “the pew” expressing concern in this particular area. That is of a call for . . . Continue reading →
Better Late Than Never . . . Presbycast’s Survival Guide For 2024
Dr Clark joins hosts Brad (Chortles Weakly) Isbell, Wresbyterian, and Presbycast guests pastor Job Dalomba and Sean Moore to have some fun and to talk about how to prepare for the craziness that 2024 promises to bring. Subscribe to the Presbycast in . . . Continue reading →
Help With The “Nones”
People who once identified with a Christian religious tradition but now identify with none are the fastest growing group in America today. Sociologist Stephen Bullivant labels these individuals “nonverts” and argues in his book of the same title that these individuals have . . . Continue reading →
The Truth About Ministering To The Elderly
I have been a Presbyterian pastor for twenty-five years, the last three of which I was privileged to serve as an aged-care chaplain. I ministered in three Presbyterian nursing homes with a community of 220 residents, some 400 staff, and hundreds of . . . Continue reading →
With Presbycast On Their 500th Episode
Scott Clark joins D. G. Hart, HRA board member Brad Isbell, Wresbyterian, and a cast of characters (for 2 hours!) to celebrate the zaniness that is the Presbycast. Continue reading →
We’ve Been Dating It All Wrong: Richard Denton And The Arrival of American Presbyterianism
Pre-1700’s Presbyterianism in America is shrouded in mystique. Some would say it did not really exist since there was no formal Presbytery established until 1706. Too often it is made to appear that Presbyterianism suddenly dropped into the colonies out of nowhere, . . . Continue reading →
Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 3): Strategic Planning And Corporate Culture Change
When the 35th GA convened at Memphis’ Cook Convention Center June 12–14, 2007, the PCA was changing from the inside out. Its expanded Overtures Committee met for the first time, and the CMC (Cooperative Ministries Committee) was begun. CofCs (Committee of Commissioners) . . . Continue reading →
Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 2): The Urban Turn
The 14th GA met in the elegant Academy of Music (a performing arts center) in the city center of Philadelphia, June 23–27, 1986. In addition to sweltering summer temperatures, a sanitation strike threatened conveniences. Nevertheless, the Assembly met in city center Philadelphia, . . . Continue reading →
Irony and the Presbyterian Church in America (Part 1): The First General Assembly
Every re-telling may choose its focus, phrasing, and pace. Think of the following as a tour guide through a relatively short sliver of ecclesiastical history. Many of the same events, persons, emphases would come across differently depending on the tour guide who . . . Continue reading →
The Simplicity of Biblical Polity
A “senior pastor” is one elder among many (as Peter, Paul, and the unnamed elders were at the Jerusalem Council, Acts 15:23) and has no extraordinary authority.* Unfortunately, some—usually large—presbyterian churches become de facto staff-led rather than elder-led. The senior pastor becomes . . . Continue reading →
PCA Overture To Distinguish Laity From Officers
The Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) Book of Church Order (BCO) contains no glossary, but maybe it needs one. This is not to fault the BCO’s early-70’s authors—no previous generation of Presbyterians had trouble figuring out what most of the words meant, . . . Continue reading →
Small Is Beautiful
If Google is a reliable search engine, the anniversary of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church on June 11 passed without any mention by the press. The reasons are not hard to fathom. The OPC is small, and it lacks a celebrity. In an . . . Continue reading →