The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) held their 2015 General Assembly during which time they sent a clear message. If you are not 100% intellectually and theologically committed to rejecting women as elders and complementarianism, you do not belong in a PCA church.
PCA and Complementarianism
Kevin DeYoung wrote in his PCA General Assembly Report:
Complementarianism: The PCA continues to be a solidly complementarian denomination. The Committee on the Review of Presbytery Records (RPR) cited the Philadelphia Presbytery for sustaining the ordination exams of a candidate who was not “100% sure the New Testament itself teaches a universal prohibition on women eldership” (* I wrongly stated in the original post that this pastor is now moving to the RCA. He has not filed to do so and continues to be a member of the Philadelphia Presbytery. My apologies.). A minority report emerged from RPR recommending that the Assembly not cite Philadelphia with an exception of substance on this matter. The Assembly was overwhelming in its vote on this issue, rejecting the minority report by a vote of 258 in favor and 554 against.
DeYoung then wrote about this in his list of encouragements from the results:
Faithfulness: The Assembly was firm in its vote citing the Philadelphia Presbytery and their ordination of a man who was not “100% convinced” the New Testament taught a universal prohibition of women eldership. I am not aware of anyone in the PCA advocating for women pastors or elders, but this ordination was a wrong step in a direction we cannot afford to head. Once again, the PCA has stood firm on a doctrine and practice that is often maligned in our current cultural context. This speaks well of its resolve, faithfulness, and submission to the authority of Scripture.
Translated: Anyone who has any doubt in this area is unfit for the PCA.
No Consideration of Egalitarian View in PCA
What’s truly unfortunate is that the candidate in question was at least honest about his misgivings. In my humble opinion, there are numerous passages in the Scriptures that very much call into doubt the 100% certainty of women being denied the ability to be elders.
I understand they are taking this stance to maintain the perceived theological purity of their denomination. That is their choice.
They have also clearly sent a message that anyone who is intellectually honest and can see how the egalitarian view can be embraced by those who call Christ Savior and Lord and believe in the authority of the Scriptures is absolutely not welcome in their denomination.
It’s good to know ahead of time the PCA would not want someone like me to darken the door of their church even though we’ll spend eternity together thanks to the loving sacrifice Christ made on the cross on my behalf as well as theirs.
It’s far different to say that men may not maintain their ordination in the denomination if they reject the teaching of the church on the issue of women’s roles in their denomination vs. saying that an egalitarian may not darken their doors. That’s plainly a false statement. The PCA welcomes folks with all sorts of differing views, even though their officers are required to maintain adherence to the denominational stance.
Hi James,
But that’s not what was said. They cited the Philadelphia Presbytery for ordaining a man who wasn’t 100% certain that complementarians are correct and egalitarians are wrong. That means there is no room for doubt. None. Not even an acknowledgement that biblical egalitarians have some very strong and valid arguments. They expect 100% submission to the complementarian view. Not 99%. Not 95%. Only 100%.
Read again what DeYoung wrote in his report. Unless his report is full of hyperbole (and I don’t think that is the case), he is basically saying that the PCA is 100% complementarian and it is an indication of their “resolve, faithfulness, and submission to the authority of Scripture.” Conservative biblical egalitarians believe they are being faithful and in submission to the authority of the Scriptures. But I guarantee you that the average biblical egalitarian who tried to become an integral part of the average PCA church would not be openly welcomed. They would be viewed with suspicion.
I know how that kind of expectation trickles down into the congregation. If a pastor has to be 100% certain, how will the average egalitarian be treated in the church? I know from experience that it won’t go well. If a pastor has to be 100% certain to remain ordained, he is not going to want biblical egalitarians in the congregation undermining his teaching by holding to different beliefs. The only way the egalitarians could stay in a PCA church would be to keep their mouths shut about the entire topic and hope no one finds them out. That’s not a healthy way to be in Christian fellowship. If fact, that’s not Christian fellowship at all. But that’s apparently the PCA standard.