Word of the Week: Update

Tom, Tag and I were all at the PCA General Assembly last week. We enjoyed some vibrant worship (and yes, we are stealing a song or two to use at Grace) and good preaching for the three nights. There were business meetings all day Wednesday and Thursday through about 10:30 AM. History was made as the assembly elected its first Moderator from another ethnic group. Alexander Jun, a local church elder from a Korean Language church (in fact, a Korean language presbytery!) became the first non-Anglo to serve in this role.

There were a host of things going on, but the major discussion surrounded the debate of the recommendations of the study committee of the roles of women in PCA churches. The paper and the original recommendations are here.

After extensive debate and discussion, all of the recommendations were approved, though several were amended by the General Assembly. These recommendations have no compelling force (i.e., we don’t HAVE to listen to them), but they are the pastoral wisdom of this year’s assembly for the church at the local and regional level.

We want to use the gifts of women in our ministry in every way possible. This report is helpful in reminding us of scripture’s teaching, and suggesting ways we can encourage women to serve in our church.

It’s great to be back home at our church…long meetings with lots of debate…well, can be draining. There were lots of great fellowship opportunities and Tom Breeden and I took advantage of the chance to spend a lot of time together. I’m so thankful for him!

In Him,

Don