PCA assembly will meet in Charlotte June 10-13
PCA News Service, June 2, 2003
The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) will be holding its annual General Assembly (national convention) at the Charlotte Convention Center from June 10-13, 2003. About 1500 delegates are expected to attend. The PCA has more than 300,000 members in 1500 churches throughout the United States and Canada.
The General Assembly will have its opening session on June 10 at 7:30 p.m.
Some of the issues coming before the General Assembly include:
A study committee on racism and the gospel. One of the presbyteries (regional bodies) has proposed that the General Assembly set up a committee to study race and the gospel and to propose a pastoral letter addressing this issue. Because the PCA roots in the old south, there is a desire for the church to seek biblical guidance to promote racial reconciliation. In 2002, the PCA General Assembly passed a resolution condemning racism and confessing any involvement in racial sin in the past.
Support of the of Marriage Amendment. There is a proposed Marriage Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The PCA General Assembly is being asked to vote to support this amendment by writing the Congress, the president and all state legislatures. It also calls on PCA members to support the passage of this amendment.
Beginning a new hard copy magazine. The premier issue of a new denominational magazine, being called byFaith, will be distributed at this General Assembly. The PCA has a Web magazine, PCANews (www.pcanews.com), but also wants to publish a hard copy magazine to promote the ministry of the PCA among its members.
Agreement with the doctrinal standards of the church. The 2002 PCA General Assembly passed an amendment to its Book of Church Order regarding the need of ministers to declare their differences, if any, with the doctrinal positions of the PCA. This amendment was approved by the presbyteries and must be voted on one more time by the 2003 General Assembly. Because this amendment has stirred much debate within the church, there is a proposal recommending that the General Assembly erect a committee to study the issue.
New presbyteries. The Presbyterian Church in America has been growing; as a result there are proposals before the General Assembly to divide a couple of presbyteries into smaller geographical units. If these proposals are approved, there will be two new presbyteries formed in Georgia and Texas, bringing the total in the PCA to 66.
Here are some positions of the Presbyterian Church in America:
The Bible. The PCA believes that the Bible is authoritative for all of life and that it answers the questions and issues of each culture and people in every period of history.
Evangelism and Engaging the World. The PCA is committed to winning converts in every part of the world and from every culture and seeing them incorporated into the church. Through a dynamic, prophetic confrontation of non-Christian thought and behavior, the PCA is committed to challenging all persons to consider the claims of Christ and His life-changing power.
Mercy Ministries. The PCA is committed to a ministry that cares for the whole person, body and soul. The PCA believes that the physical, material and bodily needs of persons is important and works to provide ministry in a wholistic framework.
The Family. The PCA is committed to strengthening the family. It believes that the family is the foundation of society and must be encouraged and nurtured through all the seasons of life.
Biblical Ethics. The PCA is committed to studying and addressing ethical and moral issues biblically. However, as an ecclesiastical body it does not make political pronouncements or get directly involved in political issues. It does encourage its members, as citizens, to be active participants in political, cultural and social matters.
Sanctity of Life. The PCA is committed to the sanctity of life in every phase of its continuum. Abortion, infanticide and euthanasia are examples of destructive acts that do not affirm the dignity and uniqueness of human life.
Homosexuality. The PCA is committed to the sanctity of human sexual relationships. We believe God’s intent in creation was that male and female would be complementary, that the privilege of sexual expression would be between male and female only, and this expression would be only in the context of marriage. Both heterosexual and homosexual sexual behavior outside of marriage violates the human spirit and distorts God’s intent for men and women.
Redemption and Grace. The PCA is committed to the power of the gospel to redeem persons enslaved by any type of sin. It believes that by the grace of God any person can be transformed and renewed and live productively in the world.
Biblical World View. The PCA is committed to the principle that all truth is God’s truth. It believes that the world can be fully interpreted and understood only by knowing God as He has revealed Himself. As the creator of the world He accurately interprets what He made.