Last week, I was talking with my son about some concepts from his geometry class. We stumbled into an interesting discussion about line segments, rays, and vectors. He pointed out that vectors are unique because they have both direction and magnitude. His comment stuck with me, and it got me thinking about the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the trajectory of our denomination as guided by the last few General Assemblies. Like a vector, the PCA has been moving steadily forward with a clear course and growing strength.
“Plotting,” as if graphing a vector, recent decisions at those General Assemblies, we can see how our denomination is moving with clarity and conviction. The first decision comes from an amendment to the Book of Church Order (BCO) which now explicitly states that elders and deacons must “conform to the biblical requirement of chastity and sexual purity in [their] descriptions of [themselves], and in [their] convictions, character, and conduct.” This strengthened language responds directly to cultural confusion over sexuality and identity. Our society increasingly promotes subjective self-identification, but the PCA is doubling down on Scripture’s unchanging framework. We believe Christian leaders must be clear in their commitments and not swayed by the shifting winds of modern rhetoric.
The second decision addresses the proper usage of official church titles - a matter some might dismiss as mere semantics. Yet in an era when language is constantly being redefined, this decision pushes back against the trend of casually adopting labels that carry spiritual authority. Our denomination recognizes that words matter deeply. Titles like “Pastor” or “Elder” are rooted in biblical mandates, so allowing them to be applied indiscriminately can muddy the waters of church polity. The PCA recognized “there is harm to the peace and purity of the church by presenting certain people as something they are not by the misuse of biblical titles.” By tightening these definitions, the PCA refuses to let the cultural flattening of distinct roles infiltrate our practice.
Finally, the 50th General Assembly took the firm step of holding a presbytery accountable for “permitting a woman to expound the Scriptures during a worship service on the Lord’s Day” (a direct challenge to a broader societal push to erase gender distinctions in leadership). Our BCO lays out clear guidelines for who can occupy the pulpit which reflects time-tested interpretations of Scripture. When that presbytery initially fell short of addressing the situation, the General Assembly intervened to ensure the issue was handled faithfully. Though such accountability can be uncomfortable, it serves as a crucial line of defense against cultural currents that push against biblical boundaries.
At each of these points, we see decisions by our denomination aimed squarely at countering pressures to conform to the world’s ever-changing standards. Society may encourage fluid definitions of identity, roles, and morality, but through God-honoring wisdom of our elders, the PCA is choosing a different path. We are saying “no” to ambiguity and “yes” to the anchor of God’s Word. Like a carefully defined vector, our direction has become clearer, and our momentum is tangible.
In Chattanooga this June, I look forward to seeing how the Lord will continue to strengthen that trajectory. May He guide our steps and keep us faithful amid the swirl of cultural redefinitions. May our resolve to stand on the solid ground of Scripture grow ever stronger. Soli Deo Gloria!
Chris Rimondi, Elder
