I have said it gently over the years that when the process becomes the pastor, the pastor slowly disappears. And this is where the PCA so often bleeds—slowly, bureaucratically, politely.
We have been members of a great PCA Church for nearly 25 years. I was a deacon for 15 years. I don’t recognize most of your criticisms here. I don’t see any slippage on doctrine, biblical truth, or teaching.
We did, however, have several years of turmoil about worship style which divided the church in half under some poor leadership at the time.
Great choice of words with "Slowly, bureaucratically, and politely" in the opening.
I find that the "bureaucracy" of the church is what i cant stand. Everything is so feminized and sterile. Bureaucracy to me is just something that holds back men of courage and clarity, which is what the PCA needs to bring to the head of its leadership. My PCA church has a large congregation led by a group of mostly retired, boomer elders + deacons (all men) and is staffed by mostly women. The hierarchy is confused, lazy, feminine, and the systems put in place are slow and weak.
We’ve seen this over the last 15 years. We call it the “Epidemic of Nice” or the “Manhattan Mood.” After a pastoral candidate acted illegally and we requested our pastors report it to the attorney general, we were told the Church brings “the light, not the heat.” Sadly, the light is not all that’s needed to protect the flock.
Thank you for calling out the creation issue. I think Theistic Evolution is a major foundational piece to the corrosion so few are discussing. This is why we are at an OPC church, they don’t recognize it as a legitimate view of Genesis. Praise God for men who take a stance!
Lord, have mercy. Church, have courage.
I see these concerns firsthand. There are many great people and parts of the PCA but change is needed and needed fast.
Dear Frank Cavalli! 💗 We’re right there with you. This one hit home! Literally! Happy Thanksgiving Britos.
We have been members of a great PCA Church for nearly 25 years. I was a deacon for 15 years. I don’t recognize most of your criticisms here. I don’t see any slippage on doctrine, biblical truth, or teaching.
We did, however, have several years of turmoil about worship style which divided the church in half under some poor leadership at the time.
That has since been largely rectified.
And I wrote about my worship there here:
https://open.substack.com/pub/stevensneff/p/on-worship?r=qawrm&utm_medium=ios
Great choice of words with "Slowly, bureaucratically, and politely" in the opening.
I find that the "bureaucracy" of the church is what i cant stand. Everything is so feminized and sterile. Bureaucracy to me is just something that holds back men of courage and clarity, which is what the PCA needs to bring to the head of its leadership. My PCA church has a large congregation led by a group of mostly retired, boomer elders + deacons (all men) and is staffed by mostly women. The hierarchy is confused, lazy, feminine, and the systems put in place are slow and weak.
We’ve seen this over the last 15 years. We call it the “Epidemic of Nice” or the “Manhattan Mood.” After a pastoral candidate acted illegally and we requested our pastors report it to the attorney general, we were told the Church brings “the light, not the heat.” Sadly, the light is not all that’s needed to protect the flock.
Thank you for calling out the creation issue. I think Theistic Evolution is a major foundational piece to the corrosion so few are discussing. This is why we are at an OPC church, they don’t recognize it as a legitimate view of Genesis. Praise God for men who take a stance!