In The Case for Christian Nationalism, widely considered the strongest argument for this position, Stephen Wolfe contends that the “classical Protestant position is that the civil magistrate can punish external religion—e.g., heretical teaching, false rites, blasphemy, and Sabbath-breaking—because such actions can cause . . . Continue reading →
American Presbyterianism
Hart On American Presbyterianism After Disestablishment
Early indications of the difference that a constitutional republic made for Presbyterianism came when in 1789 The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America revised the Westminster confession and catechisms’ clauses on the civil magistrate. The original version’s conception of the . . . Continue reading →
The Welcome of God: The PCA General Assembly 2026
The 53rd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) met this year in Louisville, KY. Hosted by the Ohio Valley Presbytery, a record number of commissioners (around 2,500, of which approximately 34% were ruling elders, a remarkably higher proportion than . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast: Superfriends Saturday: The Vices and Virtues of Churches Investing Resources in Social Media Marketing
In this episode of the Heidelcast, the Superfriends discuss the vices and virtues of Churches investing resources in social media marketing. Continue reading →
EPC Votes To Allow Ordination Of Celibate “Same-Sex Attracted” Pastors
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) voted last week at its General Assembly to approve a “pastoral letter” to churches that opens the door to ordaining celibate, same-sex attracted individuals—a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from within the denomination. The measure passed . . . Continue reading →
Kinism and Women Deacons: A Report On The 194th Synod Of The RPCNA
From June 16–19, 2026, delegates from all over the country gathered at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, for the 194th Synod of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA). There are many great things to report and there were many . . . Continue reading →
Where Are the Young Men? Ministry and the Crisis of Formation
This year, at assemblies and synods across the country, we are hearing a similar concern: There is a shortage of pastors. Churches need men. Presbyteries need men. Mission works need men. Pulpits are opening, congregations are waiting, and the question keeps coming . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast: Superfriends Saturday: Besides Baptism, What are the Differences Between Presbyterian and Baptist Theologies?
In this episode of the Heidelcast, the Superfriends discuss the differences between Presbyterian and Baptist theologies. Continue reading →
When the ARP Debates—A Report on the Proceedings of the 222nd ARP Synod
One of the many blessings of being a pastor or elder in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church is that you almost always know where the General Synod is going to be held, because since 1949, all but three of the ARP’s General . . . Continue reading →
A Retrospective of the 2026 OPC General Assembly
The 92nd General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church met at Geneva College from June 3–9, 2026. Geneva College, founded in 1848 and governed by the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America—a sister NAPARC church—is a private Christian liberal arts college located . . . Continue reading →
ARP Report Condemns Kinism
Simply put, any idea that posits racial superiority as a basis for church or civil social order is to be seen as out of bounds with Christianity as a religion and as a source of truth, and is sin. The Synod is . . . Continue reading →
Presbyterian Signers Of The Declaration Of Independence
The almost mythical status the Declaration holds for many Americans is not the product of some twentieth-century PR spin either. From the beginning, whether from prescience or hubris, Americans believed that the founding of their new nation was an act of profound . . . Continue reading →
With Presbycast On Whether Revivalism Can Be Reformed
At the end of March Brad Isbell, Wilson Van Hooser and I discussed whether Revivalism can be Reformed. As usual, great fun was had by all. Here’s the video: Here’s the audio-only episode in the Presbycast Libsyn feed. Subscribe to the Presbycast . . . Continue reading →
The Little Steps That Led To Big Problems
The ordination of women in American Presbyterianism did not emerge overnight but through a long sequence of small decisions — in churches and eventually courts — that gradually reshaped the Church’s understanding of officers, ordination, their function, and authority. In my previous . . . Continue reading →
The Hanover Presbytery Rejected The Established Religion As Unamerican
The Memorial of the Presbytery of Hanover humbly represents, that your memorialists are governed by the same sentiments which have inspired the United States of America, and are determined that noting in our power and influence shall be wanting to give success . . . Continue reading →
Video: John Thomson And The Shaping Of American Presbyterianism With Stephen A. Fix
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
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
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
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
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 →