As the winds of progressive culture continue to pick up
speed, evangelical denominations find themselves feeling the pressure of where
to draw the line. History tells us that the mainline denominations, which were
once evangelical in ethos, eroded under the pressure of Neo-Orthodoxy and the
temptation of cultural credibility.
This Category Five has now reached the evangelical reformed
world and the PCA, particularly in the form of last year’s Revoice
Conference. This is in addition to the inclusion of un-ordained (at this
point) female deacons and a St. Louis PCA Church’s participating in Faith
for Justice— an organization that provides an ongoing teaching platform for
a Transgendered Education and Advocacy Coordinator of the Missouri ACLU. One
might wonder how this could be tolerated in the PCA, particularly in terms of a
biblical sexual ethic; but creative parsing of sexual identity and personhood,
cohabitation in the form of spiritual friendships, and promotion of conferences
through the use of church facilities have muddied the waters for a direct
response by many moderates.
My prayer is at this coming General Assembly, we will see an
open and faithful rebuke to some of these very real fissures corroding
confessional and biblical fidelity. But what if these churches continue down
the path of imprudence?
I believe there are other options for progressives that will
present themselves in the near future— and I don’t mean an exodus by
conservatives in the PCA.
As a response to the ongoing debates and now full inclusion
of LGBTQ+ membership and ordination in the PCUSA, a new denomination called the
Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians or ECO, was formed in 2012. This denomination
quickly grew as many large PCUSA churches transitioned into its ranks. At the
time, I was attending Fuller Theological Seminary in Houston, an extension established
in response to the liberalism of the PCUSA seminary in Texas. However, it
puzzled me that ECO retained the twelve confessions listed from the BCO of the
PCUSA.
What has become clear is that this retention was simply a
transitional stage as ECO moved further and further away from its former
mainline roots into what is now a broader evangelical, uncompromisingly egalitarian,
small “r” reformed denomination. In 2018, ECO voted to remove four of the
aforementioned confessions, limiting their current standards to Westminster,
Heidelberg and the Barmen Declaration. Though ECO explicitly regards these as “not
binding,” they are considered guiding documents. The only binding document is
presented in a statement of faith called the “Essential Tenets.”
In addition to ECO, and positioned to the Left of the PCA, is
the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Compared to ECO, the EPC retains the
Westminster Standards, yet they also set aside a fundamental document, “The Essentials of our Faith.” While all
but two of the EPC’s presbyteries allow for female Teaching Elders, there are
particular congregations within those bounds that retain both female Ruling
Elders and Deaconesses.
Why the comparison of confessional documents of
denominations outside of the PCA? It is no secret that the history of American
Presbyterianism looks like a spaghetti junction of division and realignment. A
future merger of ECO and the EPC will provide a broader evangelical home for
progressives in the PCA. Some such as City
Church, Houston, have already made the exit based on the egalitarian issue.
Others like Christ Presbyterian Church in Houston, one of the largest churches
in the EPC, voted last month to enter the PCA.
Both ECO and the EPC are beginning to look even more like
the same denomination. In the current culture creep, larger denominations will
provide both resources and a louder voice to whatever convictions they adhere.
At current size both ECO and the EPC combined, would immediately make for a
denomination just over half the size of the PCA. I believe the seeds of
realignment have been planted and the trees of ECO and the EPC are beginning
even now to produce similar looking fruit in the form of a New School,
egalitarian, missional and culturally accommodating, small “r” reformed church.
I agree wholeheartedly, well stated John.
ReplyDeleteGot here from the Aquila Report.
ReplyDeleteI would call this a "best case" scenario, but I am not optimistic. What is the precedent for the liberal bloc to leave a denomination, versus the conservative bloc? I can't think of one.
It seems like time and time again the denominations drift left until the conservatives (aka the Biblically faithful) can't take it anymore. By then the liberals have the positions of power, the money, the institutions, and the conservatives are forced to leave (because the liberals like the way things are going and realize they can bide their time).
Why will it be different this time?
Thanks for your reply. The SBC is the best example of a national conservative resurgence, granted I recognize we are talking about a contrasting church polity. As well, the ARP saw conservative movement toward an explicit document on inerrancy approved in 2008 and a special called Synod in 2010 was called to reorganize and realign Erskine Seminary with the more conservative doctrines of the ARP. These battles are typically fought in the seminaries where future ministers are trained. This year there is an overture coming to General assembly that would dismiss Covenant Seminary from PCA funding and oversight. If approved it would be a step in the right direction.
DeleteThank you for this posting. I am a bit confused by the last paragraph. I have seen a very, in my view, anemic response by PCA pastors to an apparent Romans 1 judgement within our own denomination (re: St. Louis and others). My own limited experiences are that the ECO/EPC/St.Louis/Covenant Seminary apostasy ethos is very strong in the PCA and awaits only a small spark to bring it to domination. The idea of progressives exiting slowly is, again in my view, naive at best. History shows only one thing: progressives do not retreat. They seek domination and total victory. I would not be surprised if the all too public secret societies within the PCA are already planning a full takeover of the PCA. Unless orthodox PCA leaders rise up quickly (possibly with textual and oratorical pitchforks & torches) and call out the apostasy and begin banning these folks from our midst, it will be the orthodox that exit slowly. But to where? That is really the question for your next posting. Sorry to sound negative, but I believe this is the normal way the Lord purifies his church so I am very optimistic about the future of Christ's Church - God always has a remmant.
ReplyDeleteRandall, thanks for your reply. A new group has met called the “Grassroots Presbyterians.” There is a Facebook page by that same name to give further information as well as an interview on @presbycast. This years General Assembly will be telling.
ReplyDelete