Archive for the 'General' Category
We Have Policies!?!
Filed under: General | Tags: Marriage, Weddings, Funerals
Comments(0) Church, saints, Christians…
I wanted to make you aware of some items that the Session has been working on namely, policies regarding Weddings and Funerals. The Session decided to make these policies for a few reasons: 1) to protect the members of the Church (those who are under our care); 2) to protect ourselves as the Session; 3) to make it clear what needs to take place for weddings and funerals (we know that we can be slow in doing things so we make it available to work a little more quickly); and there are other reasons but those are the main ones.
The polices can be found on the Policies page at the top of the website.
Busy Busy Busy
Comments(0)Sorry,
I have unable to post in awhile for several reasons: 1) Being examined for ordination (I passed); 2) Moving into the manse, I did not like this at all (that is the moving part, I love the manse); and 3) I have no internet, but hopefully tomorrow we will be solving that problem.
Thanks for everyone’s patience. Hope to be writing soon!
Report of PCA GA 2008
Comments(1)I am happy to report that the General Assembly of our denomination voted down the requests to appoint a committee to study the issue of ordaining/commissioning deaconesses (female deacons). This is a good thing.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with Rev. Fred Greco who was the stated supply at Tchula for a year or so. It is stated of him concerning the study committee as he served the General Assembly,
“This is not a new area of study,” said Fred Greco, who served as the chair of the Overtures Committee, which recommended that the General Assembly dismiss the deaconess overture. “There is plenty of existing material on the subject, and our Book of Church Order is clear [that ordained church officers are to be men].”
Greco also expressed concern that further study of this issue would polarize advocates on either side—causing deepening division in the church. Fred Greco urged continued discussion about this issue, but at the local level. “We recommend that the church address these issues constitutionally, through presbyteries working in a local context and raising up amendments for General Assembly. There are venues for this discussion to take place in a less confrontational, more grassroots way.”
Generally, what Fred communicated to the General Assembly is that this issue has been clearly taken care of already. It is clear in Scripture and in the Constitution of the PCA that women are not to be ordained or commissioned as deacons, but they may assist deacons. This has proven itself throughout most of history and even in the history of Presbyterianism, particularly. It was acknowledged that these questions are now arising in the Church because of the influence of our culture, which is highly influenced by feminism. The General Assembly then voted to uphold the Overtures Committee’s decision to not appoint a study committee.
Thank you for all of you faithful Presbyterians who prayed for our denomination this week. Praise God for His continual faithfulness.
