The Vermont Project

Finally found this link.

Our Presbytery is planting a church in Burlington, VT. We are very excited about this project and have already seen some amazing things happening to move this project forward.

If you get a chance, check out the website, and consider supporting the work there in Burlington!

JI Packer & the Trinity Hymnal

Interesting article on CT Online.

I know I have noticed several differences to familiar hymns in the Red Trinity Hymnal and knew there must be a reason why. This article confirms it.

Glad to know some thoughtful people put this together for our benefit.

And as a bonus, a good illustration from Packer.

Women in the PCA

So for a third straight year, it looks like the focus will be again on women in the Presbyterian Church in America. Anyone who has been following the denomination, knows this is a hot topic. Women in Leadership, Deaconesses, etc.... In 2008 and 2009 the issue was left unresolved, and so now it reappears in 2010.

This attempt is more surgical in nature. Meaning that it is directed at a specific part of the Book of Church Order and comes with an amendment. In the past, it was often said the overtures and motions were too vague. That could not be said of Overture 3 for this coming GA.

I am wondering if this will be the showdown everyone has been dreading, or if it will be a non issue. I am not sure, but I, along with many in the PCA will be watching closely as this develops.

Stay tuned.

Click Here to read the byFaith Article

A blog everyone should be following

A blog everyone should be following, and praying along with this family.

A PCA minister in Western PA and his family's struggle with a rare disease that has affected their oldest daughter. Very heart wrenching stuff, but the witness of the gospel is impressive. This family seeks to be transparent and honest in their thoughts and feelings.

Here is the link to their blog. I have been a subscriber, I would encourage more to do so as well.

Changing of the Guard in the PCA

Good article by Dr. Bryan Chapell. I hope he is right.

A Changing of the Guard Will Guide Us

Explotation in Atlanta

Read this in our denomination's magazine. Great to hear of a PCA church doing something for the sake of exploited children in our world.

Bringing Hope to Exploited Children

PCA Church in Brooklyn

I heard this minister speak at General Assembly in Orlando this year. Great testimony and very encouraging to hear what God is doing in NYC.

Click here to read the CT Article.

A new addition to the PCA?

Came across this article today on Christianity today. I have never heard of Tullian Tchividjian until this article, but I found him interesting and may pick up his latest book.



What do you think?

Dr. David Wells on Recent Book

This was something I was very fortunate to be apart of.....

I am the fraternal delegate to the Southern New England Presbytery and 2 weekends ago they met in Manchester, CT.

As part of the meeting, the Presbytery invited Dr. David Wells from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to speak on his recent book, the Courage to be Protestant. It was a good talk and it included the future of the PCA. You can download the talk at this website. Enjoy!

Common Ground Online Conference

One of the PCA ministers in our Presbytery alerted me to this.

Apparently there is quite a discussion going on among younger PCA ministers ( which I am one of, but had no idea) about the future of the PCA.

Sounds good, but apparently it has sparked some debate. That debate has reached the 21st century and can be found here.

I am still trying to get my head around this, but I thought I would pass it along. Tim Keller, Ligon Duncan, Mark Driscoll, Phil Ryken are all weighing in on this discussion.

Women in the Church

Just got this email yesterday and am still reading the articles, but I thought it was important enough to pass along quickly.

I was frustrated we did not get anywhere at General Assembly about women in the church, but I think that has changed. Read along...

To: ByFaith Readers
From: Richard Doster, editor
Subject: Two articles in the current magazine

In June the PCA’s General Assembly rejected Overture Nine—to form a study committee investigating the issue of women deacons.

In his defense of this decision, Fred Greco, chairman of the Overtures Committee, urged more discussion at the local level. “There are,” Greco said, “venues for this discussion to take place in a less confrontational way.”

These discussions are underway—formally and informally—calmly and not so calmly. To encourage unity and civility, we’ve published two articles on the subject in the most recent issue of byFaith. They come from two of our most highly respected pastors, Ligon Duncan and Tim Keller. Both men know and love God’s Word. Both have unwavering allegiance to its authority. And, though they differ, each one respects the other.

As you approach these articles, we want you to be aware of these points of agreement:

* Both writers are firmly complementarian.

* They agree that no credible, biblical case can been made for the ordination of women to the teaching and ruling office in the church.

* They affirm that our polity and practice is to be informed by, and corrected by, Scripture alone.

* They urge us to engage the question with full respect for our fellow churchmen who hold different views.

* They urge us to focus on Scripture rather than to respond—either by reaction or adaptation—to the culture.

* And both agree, “The real question we ought to be asking is not should we have ordained female deacons or deaconesses but rather, what kind of deaconess, or female diaconal assistant, does the New Testament authorize?”

In publishing these articles, we hope to promote the peace and purity of the PCA.

For the sake of the kingdom,

Richard Doster
Editor

The Case for Commissioning (Not Ordaining) Deaconesses

Tim Keller, Issue Number 21, August 2008

The Case for Our Current Policy on Female Deacons

Ligon Duncan, Issue Number 21, August 2008