She will fulfill her responsibility for moderatorial neutrality, thus helping to create an even playing field for those supporting and opposing the replacement document. Newly-elected General Assembly Moderator Cynthia Bolbach has solved an initial conflict of interest. At the moderator’s press conference following her election Saturday night, The Layman magazine (the voice of Evangelicals in... Continue Reading

Each of the major issues (deaconesses and denominational planning) may reveal interesting and unexpected twists and turns, probably not planned by some. The 38th General Assembly of the PCA will probably neither prove to be the disastrous abyss that some think nor the inauguration of the eschaton expected by others. When measured by a longer... Continue Reading

“…people came to an indoctrination, and a dialogue broke out.” Even before General Assembly commissioners were installed, before the Assembly convened, already they and advisory delegates were being instructed on key issues by select voices chosen by the Office of the General Assembly. Whereas some “Riverside Conversations” were one-sided, in the conversation about the Report... Continue Reading

“I hope this morning equips you to be the commissioner that God has called you to be.” With this purpose statement, the Rev. Phil Moran opened the Presbyterians For Renewal (PFR) Briefing Saturday morning, the opening day of PCUSA 2010 General Assembly. Two hundred intrepid commissioners, advisory delegates and observers gathered for this 7 a.m.... Continue Reading

“Our denomination is that paralyzed man,” she said. “We are paralyzed with fatigue over our battles, with fear over how to share the gospel in the 21st century.” Ruling Elder Cynthia Bolbach has been elected moderator of the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on the fourth ballot cast by commissioners. Candidates must... Continue Reading

For a denomination to expand by 100 congregations in just three years bucks the trend of most North American mainline denominations that are universally in decline. Some of that growth is the result of church planting, but the vast majority is the result of congregations transferring into the EPC from the larger Presbyterian Church (USA).... Continue Reading

With the hours ticking away before Saturday night’s Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly moderator election, the six candidates have been busy rallying support. In addition to manning their campaign booths at the Minneapolis Convention Center the days before the election, the candidates also visited various group events the night before the election. At one campaign... Continue Reading

This report is limited to highlights of the meeting to provide our readers with the main issues considered. The first item of business at 8:00AM Friday was to return to the report of the COC on Mission to North America and the request of the Chaplains Commission for a statement on the military’s dealing with... Continue Reading

This report is limited to highlights that could be of interest to our readers. First up after lunch was the Report of the Theological Examination Committee. This committee examines and approves men called for first or second ‘tier’ positions in the PCA, such as Presidents of the college and seminary, Coordinators of the varies ministry... Continue Reading

According to the Fraternal Relations committee, no invitation was extended for representation by the EPC at the upcoming meeting of the PCUSA where the investigating committee’s report will be heard and acted upon. When the Fraternal Relations committee met at the 30th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, June 24 in Englewood, Colo., there... Continue Reading