Resources On The PCA

The Presbyterian Church in America was formed in 1973 by congregations who withdrew from the former Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS), the old mainline Southern Presbyterian Church. The denomination was moving toward a merger with the United Presbyterian Church in the USA, the northern, liberal Presbyterian Church. That merger happened in 1983 thus forming the current Presbyterian Church in the USA (PCUSA). In 1982 the Reformed Presbyterian Church Evangelical Synod joined the PCA bringing with it Covenant Theological Seminary in St Louis and Covenant College in Lookout Mt, TN (now Lookout Mt, GA). In 2020, the PCA Administrative Committee reported a total membership of 383,228. It is by far the largest denomination in the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council (NAPARC). It is probably the NAPARC denomination closest to American evangelicalism and thus tends to reflect evangelical trends and is a bellwether for the rest of NAPARC. In 2002 the PCA adopted a “good faith” approach to subscription. In 2007 the General Assembly received a report critical of the so-called Federal Vision theology. In 2010 the PCA adopted a controversial strategic plan.   In recent years the PCA has struggled with the question of ministers who self-identify as celibate, non-practicing homosexuals. This is the so-called “Side B” approach to homosexuality and Christianity. It is sometimes described by its proponents as “Gay Christianity.” A major PCA congregation in St Louis has hosted the Revoice Conference advocating this approach. In 2021 a strong majority at GA supported two overtures intended to restrict the admission of Side B Christians to the ministry of the PCA. That decision must be ratified by a plurality of presbyteries and by a majority at the next GA in order to modify the Book of Church Order.

General and Historical PCA Resources

Confessional Subscription

Federal Vision

Strategic Plan

Side B/Revoice/Gay Christianity

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