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PCA's 30th General Assembly, 2002 GA Update
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Tuesday: June 18, 2002
This past week, delegates, some with wives and children, assembled from all around the world to do the business of the portion of Christ's Kingdom called the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). As preliminary work was underway over 1,480 Pastors and Ruling Elders had registered. These include those called to serve local congragations, teachers in our schools and seminaries, and missionaries. Worship was the first order of business testifying that those gathered gave God all the glory for what he had done in their ministries, and to express the centrality of Jesus Christ in all they purpose to do. A sermon centered on Jeremiah 1 was delivered by the outgoing moderator, Ruling Elder Steve Fox. The Lord's Supper was administered and voices were raised in praise to God for his rich blessings. 
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Wednesday: June 19, 2002
Reports were received from the Interchurch Relations Committee, the Reformed University Ministries, PCA Foundation, the Committee on Constitutional Business, the Standing Judicial Commission, Mission to North America, Insurance Annuities and Relief, Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, Mission To the World, and Christian Education and Publications. The reports included many recommendations and encouraging updates about how our Lord is using our various ministries to advance his Kingdom through his redeemed people. Mission to North America's report reflected a desire to broaden the focus of our churches to include the various languages and cultures which are growing in our country. Mission to the World has directed us to set aside November 3rd as a day of prayer and fasting (according to the practice of each local church) for the persecuted churches. Other encouragements were given by both missions committees to help us meet the goals of our Lord's commission to represent him as lights to the world in which he has placed us. |
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Summary continues for the events of Thursday-Friday: June 20-21, 2002 The reports that brought the most controversy were dealt with during the business sessions on the last two days of the General Assembly. |
The 30th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)
met from June 18-21 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in
Birmingham, Alabama. This was the site of this denomination's first General
Assembly, 30 years ago.
In the first business session Teaching Elder Joseph (Skip)
Ryan was elected to serve as moderator for this next year. His duty is to preside
at the business sessions during the meetings of the General Assembly. A motion was
presented by Dr. Morton Smith to allow non-PCA news materials to be distributed to
delegates outside the meeting area. After a counted vote, the motion prevailed.
The first full day of assembly business started with the report of
the Stated Clerk. Current statistics were reviewed, and all BCO amendments
previously sent down to the presbyteries and approved by a sufficient number
of them were approved to become part of our Book of Church Order. The changes
included procedural adjustments to the details of our judicial process, updates
to our governing documents to reflect the new status of Reformed University Ministries
as a permanent committee, an increase that allows churches with 350 or fewer members
to be authorized to send two Ruling Elder delegates to presbytery meetings,
and clarified that only such men as are sufficiently qualified should preach the
word of God in our churches.