The overture proposed an amendment to our Form of Government which sought to clarify the difference between examinations for licensure and those for ordination. The overture proposed that the exams for licensure be restricted to the Westminster Confession of Faith. While CCE was sympathetic with the aims of the overture, it argued that there was... Continue Reading

The OPC is in its 39th year of partnership with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) through Great Commission Publications (GCP). Recently, GCP appointed Mr. Marvin Padgett its executive director. Mr. Padgett addressed the assembly and outlined some of the changes happening at GCP, particularly its website redesign and a new curriculum based on John... Continue Reading

George Cottenden, who has served for four years as stated clerk, is retiring from this position at this assembly. Rev. Ross Graham, former associate general secretary of Home Missions and Church Extension, has been appointed to succeed Mr. Cottenden. Mr. Graham assumed this position immediately after Mr. Cottenden gave his stated clerk’s report. The assembly... Continue Reading

Rev. Craig Troxel, pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church in Wheaton, IL, was elected as moderator of the 81st General Assembly. Rev. Archibald Allison, pastor of Emmaus Presbyterian Church in Ft. Collins, CO, had also been nominated. Mr. Danny Olinger, who had nominated Mr. Troxel, escorted him to the podium and then led the assembly in... Continue Reading

The Committee on Arrangements made its final report. Budgets for GA purposes were approved and a resolution of thanks to St. Mary’s College was adopted. The assembly was dissolved by the moderator, who called for the 81st General Assembly to meet at Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, Michigan from June 4–10, 2014.   There were... Continue Reading

The 73rd OPC General Assembly authorized the Committee on Christian Education to develop a Psalter-Hymnal. Its mandate is to include musical settings of all 150 Psalms, in their entirety, with as much accuracy and as little archaic language and confusing syntax as possible, for use in churches. In 2012 the United Reformed Churches of North... Continue Reading

There were three pastors nominated for moderator: Archibald Allison, Larry Westerveld, and Jeffrey Landis. After the nomination speeches, balloting was to take place though electronic voting devices but they did not work; paper ballots were provided for the delegates. Jeffrey Landis, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in San Jose, Calif., was elected as moderator.  ... Continue Reading

The first article explicitly rejects the Westminster Confession of Faith’s view of Adam being made with an immortal soul and questions if Adam was created in knowledge, righteousness and holiness. The other article suggests that “if the biblical account of what we call the fall can be understood as ‘rising beasts,’ ‘falling upwards’ to moral... Continue Reading

The OPC is known for having hearty discussion on the floor of its assemblies, and several commissioners noted this year that the expression of strong convictions can be maintained together with “the meekness of wisdom” (James 3:13) as the tenor of the debates can testify.

The assembly had a time of thanksgiving to the Lord for the labors of Mr. Ross Graham, who is retiring from his position as General Secretary of Home Missions in 2013.