With simple visuals and authentic Appalachian-American verbiage, the Little Bubby Child social media accounts1 paint a loving and humorous picture of modern-day hillbillies as they interact with broader American culture. It’s not all fun and games—the dysfunction and breakdown are on display, but the wisdom . . . Continue reading →
Church Polity
Honesty Is The Best Policy
I don’t like writing about this, but I like ecclesial lawlessness even less. And I don’t seek this stuff—it is thrust upon me. Is there any reason unordained persons should lay hands on ruling elders being ordained in a PCA church? Is . . . Continue reading →
Young Ministers With Older Elders
As I lifted my hands, scanned the room, and gave my first benediction, the realization that I really was a pastor now hit me like a ton of bricks. From now on it was my job to “shepherd the flock of God… . . . Continue reading →
NW Georgia Overtures PCA GA to Create Committee to Revise Directory For Worship For Authoritative Use
Whereas even prior to the establishment of constitutional documents in American Presbyterianism, American Presbyterians utilized the Westminster Form of Government and Directory for Public Worship, as adopted by the Synod of Philadelphia in 1729, thereby affirming the historic practice of ordering worship according . . . Continue reading →
Chad Vegas, Chris Gordon, And R. Scott Clark: Why Are The Reformed So Weird?
We’re talking about practice; not a game, not a game, not a game. We’re talking about practice. Continue reading →
Audio: A Frank Discussion About Baptism And Reformed Church Membership
We’re still talking about practice; not a game, not a game, not a game. We’re talking about practice. Continue reading →
Oh No My Church Is Reforming! Chad Vegas, Chris Gordon, And R. Scott Clark On Reformation In 2025
We’re talking about practice; not a game, not a game, not a game. We’re talking about practice. Continue reading →
The Biblical Middle Between Hierarchy and Anarchy
Concepts of representation and visibility often come up in social and political discussions about equity, inclusion, fairness, or justice. These concepts can be wrongly or unwisely imported into the church, a spiritual body with her own ethics, processes, standards, and constitution. Yet there is a pressing . . . Continue reading →
New: Resources On The Doctrine Of The Church (Ecclesiology)
When one talks about the church what is at stake is the way in which the Christian life is organized. I believe that the Bible teaches us that believers should be united to the visible community of the redeemed meeting for worship, . . . Continue reading →
God Has Ordained Men, Means, and Method
The wonderful Preface to the Presbyterian Church in America’s Book of Church Order is an overlooked masterpiece of piety and practice—an especially helpful resource: Christ, as King, has given to His Church officers, oracles and ordinances; and especially has He ordained therein His system of doctrine, government, . . . Continue reading →
A Ruling Elder’s Advice For Surviving The Election
1. There is little at this point you can do to affect the outcome of the election except to vote. 2. God is sovereign and will not be surprised by any outcome. 3. In light of the above fact, be calm for . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast Live! Pragmatism In Church Planting
Dan Borvan, Brad Isbell, Scott McDermand, Chris Gordon, and Harrison Perkins join Dr Clark to discuss pragmatism and Reformed church planting. Continue reading →
Heidelminicast Q&A: Term Eldership Versus Lifetime Eldership?
In this episode Dr Clark answers a question about the differences between term eldership and lifetime service as a ruling elder. Continue reading →
Of Wheels, Spokes, And Ruling Elders (Part 2)
Previously, we looked at the office of Ruling Elder (RE) in P&R churches. Today, we continue that conversation. Truing The Spokes When a bloc of REs, however, becomes less a counter-weight to progressive tendencies and more an anchor to prevent Reformation according . . . Continue reading →
Of Wheels, Spokes, And Ruling Elders (Part 1)
In his epistle (3:1) to the Trallians (c. AD 114), written to one of the congregations that visited him on the way to Rome to be martyred, Ignatius, the senior pastor (ἐπίσκοπος) of Antioch mentioned three offices in the church: Similarly, let . . . Continue reading →
Did The Reformation Corrupt The Gospel By Baptizing Babies?
That is just one of a series of claims made recently by my friend Mark Dever, who is a devout Baptist. Rather than reading my summary of Mark’s claims, you should watch this brief video clip for yourself, to which I will . . . Continue reading →
Review: Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church by Michael J. Kruger
Michael Kruger has written a gem of a book, addressing one of the most prominent issues troubling the church today. Increasingly, we are faced with stories about pastors who misuse their position of authority to achieve their own selfish ends to the . . . Continue reading →
Polity Matters: How Reformed Churches Might Have Handled The Chandler Situation
Matt Chandler is the lead pastor of The Village Church, a megachurch of about 14,000 members in Flower Mound, TX, which is a northern suburb in the Dallas-Ft Worth metroplex (it is the top of the triangle of the three). After the . . . Continue reading →
Peace And Purity Provided By Authority: John Thomson’s Defense Of Presbyterian Church Polity (Part 15): Conclusion
Close attention has been paid thus far to Thomson’s articulation of Presbyterian Church government, which stood in juxtaposition with his opponents. In response to the objections of the New Side, Thomson’s works revealed the ultimate reason why he opposed what they were . . . Continue reading →
Peace And Purity Provided By Authority: John Thomson’s Defense Of Presbyterian Church Polity (Part 14): Terms Of Communion
As a particular church, Thomson argued that the officers of the church needed to exercise their authority to adopt a confession for their communion. As a Synod not formally associated with any other church, the Synod could adopt a set of standards . . . Continue reading →