Girl Problems
Defenders of non-ordained commissioned deaconesses often justify the practice by citing the historical precedent of "widow-deaconesses" utilized by this French Genevan Reformer.
Who is John Calvin?
This group aims to cultivate healthy Reformed churches within the PCA but is often accused by progressive bloggers of orchestrating voting blocs/power moves at the General Assembly.
What is The Gospel Reformation Network?
Support for ethnic minority leaders is officially structured through the minority ministries of this highly scrutinized agency of the PCA.
What is Mission to North America (MNA)?
Nominated by the Administrative Committee in early 2026, this former corporate attorney and Texas pastor is slated to be the 5th Stated Clerk of the PCA.
Who is Fred Greco?
This political ideology, which asserts that the U.S. should explicitly encode Christian identity into its civil laws, is a major flashpoint among PCA bloggers.
What is Christian Nationalism?
BCO 9-7 allows for "godly men and women" to serve in this specific unordained role, helping with mercy ministry, caring for the sick, and assisting widows without holding office.
What are assistants to the deacons?
The GRN has recently focused heavily on influencing this General Assembly committee, which proposes the slate of members who will run PCA boards and agencies.
What is the Nominating Committee (Nom Com)?
The treatment of minority leaders in the PCA became particularly strained after the denomination formed a study committee to officially condemn this academic framework, which some saw as unnecessarily policing their language.
Response: What is Critical Race Theory (CRT)?
Child of a famous teaching elder in his own right, this person is controversially considered "the best preacher in the PCA."
Paige Benton Brown
At the 52nd General Assembly, Kevin DeYoung appointed the members of the PCA’s Christian Nationalism Study Committee. The committee is tasked with examining Christian Nationalism and Ethno-Nationalism, and determining whether these ideas align with—or deviate from—the doctrines of the Westminster Standards. Anecdotally, positive reception and acceptance of the committee's work may prevent this.
What is "All the minority leaders leave the PCA within the next year"?
Though they do not hold ordained office, women heavily influence the PCA through this permanent committee, which oversees women's ministry and the enCourage blog.
What is the Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM)?
The GRN's push for agency oversight is often tied to this common approach to the Westminster Standards.
What is Strict Subscription?
In 2016, this specific gathering of the General Assembly famously voted to repent (or officially apologize) regarding the denomination's historical complicity in racism and segregation during the Civil Rights era.
What is "The 44th"?
Before his nomination for Stated Clerk, Fred Greco built his reputation for strict constitutional knowledge by serving multiple terms as the chairman of this body.
*DAILY DOUBLE*
How many members serve within this body?
What is the Standing Judicial Commission (SJC)?
*DAILY DOUBLE* - 24
PCA bloggers sympathetic to Christian Nationalism often argue for a return to the original version of this chapter of the WCF, which gave the civil magistrate power over the church.
What is Chapter 23?
In 2024, the PCA approved an amendment to this specific paragraph of the Book of Church Order to strictly police the use of ecclesial titles for unordained staff.
What is BCO 7-3?
RPR is the body responsible for reading the minutes of regional church courts to ensure constitutional compliance with the BCO; it is the key place where this uniquely presbyterian function occurs.
What is review and control?
This theological doctrine has emerged again, which argues that the church has no jurisdiction in civil or social affairs, was the primary tool used by early PCA leaders to justify staying silent on—or actively supporting—Jim Crow laws.
What is the Spirituality of the Church?
In 1996, this man served as the Moderator of the General Assembly and is a vocal proponent of a "big tent" PCA committed to the Great Commission.
Who is Charles McGowan?
Proponents of this modern view argue the state should remain "religiously neutral" based on the Noahic Covenant, a position criticized by those seeking a "Christian nation."
Answer: What is the "Reformed Two Kingdoms" (R2K) view?
This controversial report circulated by conservative PCA bloggers, sought to prove that roughly 7% of PCA churches were giving women this type of "functional" status, even if they weren't officially ordained.
What is the "Foster Report"?
Leaders across the denominational spectrum criticize these bodies for sometimes functioning as "helpful guides" that people "cherry-pick" to justify practices not found in the BCO.
Answer: What are Study Committees?
This ideology, closely related to anti-semitism, has been condemned as a heresy by various PCA and NAPARC leaders -- though it is making a comeback in broader discussions.
Answer: What is Kinism? (the belief that races should not intermix)
This first Stated Clerk and founding father of the PCA authored a 1964 article titled "The Racial Problem Facing the Church," in which he argued that the Bible did not explicitly forbid racial segregation.
Who is Morton H. Smith?
Proponents of Christian Nationalism within the PCA believe this core claim "that civil government must ____ _____ ____ " is nearly ubiquitous in Reformed History.
What is the principle that civil government must promote true religion?