Pray for the PCA

June 24, 2021 | by: Dale Thiele | 0 Comments

Posted in: Pastoral Encouragement

Next week our denomination will hold its annual General Assembly in St. Louis. General Assembly is the highest court of our denomination where teaching elders and ruling elders meet on an annual basis to discuss and collaborate on matters that impact the whole of the Presbyterian Church in America. GA was postponed last summer due to pandemic restrictions. Bill Burns and I will attend next week. This is the first time Oak Hills has sent commissioners to GA. 

I would like to invite you to pray for Bill and me and our denomination as we give ourselves to the business of the church. Here are some highlights to pray for: 

  1. Pray for the Ministry Impact of our Denomination. GA is the opportunity for our denominational agencies to report on their work. There are nine agencies the elders of GA oversee: Committee on Discipleship Ministries, Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, Mission to North America, Mission to the World, PCA Foundation, PCA Retirement & Benefits, Inc, Reformed University Fellowship, and Ridge Haven Conference Center. Each agency has a unique ministry focus to further the denomination’s mission. Reports are given at GA and oversight committees review each agency’s work. 
  1. Pray for the Worship and Fellowship of the Commissioners. GA is not all business. Each session is opened with worship and preaching. There is opportunity to build friendships and networks with ministers from all over the country. Registration this year is already at a record high, with over 2,000 elders planning to attend. Pray for the edification and fellowship of the commissioners. 
  1. Pray for Wisdom for the Commissioners as We Make Decisions Impacting the Church. At each GA new members are appointed to the various committees overseeing the ministries of the agencies. Proposals for amending our Book of Church Order and other denominational manuals will be under consideration. Requests for study committees and denominational response to specific situations are on the docket. While many decisions are quite ordinary, some can impact the focus and direction of the PCA. 
  1. Pray for Unity around Truth and Love. Around certain issues there is a bit of a divide growing in the PCA. Some are concerned that cultural accommodations are feeding a drift away from biblical and confessional fidelity. Others are concerned that irrational fears are feeding a drift away from the true mission of the church. Many are caught in the middle of these debates. Pray that truth will be spoken clearly and lovingly. Pray that our denomination will remain united around our core values: Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission. 

If you are interested in following the action of GA, the sessions will be livestreamed online. ByFaith magazine also provides updates on the proceedings of GA.

 

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