I want to thank the dear family at First Presbyterian Church for praying for our 38^th General Assembly.  It seems to me the Lord blessed us particularly with a spirit of brotherly love in the midst of rigorous debate.  As I reported to you before the Assembly, the Strategic Plan and the issue of deaconesses were the most controversial subjects for discussion.  The Strategic Plan passed in all its parts with the exception of one “means” for increasing participation in the General Assembly.  Though the discussion of the Plan was long, it was wise of those bringing it to the Assembly to have each part of it dealt with as a committee of the whole.  Overture 7 from Evangel Presbytery regarding deaconesses was approved.  It proposes an amendment to BCO 9-7 clarifying that men and women who assist the diaconate as mercy ministers may not be ordained.  While I wish we could have said a similar thing in a positive way (that is, it seems we can only make negative pronouncements about women), at least it does not hinder the freedoms we currently have to utilize and honor the mercy gifts of women and men.  Given that some of the blogs lament that the Assembly did not “reverse the trend,” it seems to me that a number of those opposing deaconesses wish to narrow existing freedoms rather than merely provide assurances against a slippery slope toward ordaining women to ruling and teaching offices.  Before it can become a part of our Book of Church Order the amendment must be approved by two-thirds of our presbyteries and pass the GA again next year.

Though I intended my blog posting before GA for the First Pres family, it was picked up by several other blogs.  Several writers rightly criticized me for my comment that those who opposed the Strategic Plan are generally against everything new.  Though my primary interest was to communicate with you before leaving town and therefore before my first cup of coffee, I offer no excuse for such an uncharitable and broad-sweeping condemnation of anyone who would disagree with my opinion that the Plan is a good idea.  Primarily my conviction for speaking thusly (as well as for the cynical tone of some of my comments at GA) came from the humble and brotherly interactions among men like Harry Reeder, Bryan Chapell, Joseph Pipa, David Coffin, Tim Keller, Lig Duncan and Andy Webb.  Though they did not all agree and sometimes debated rigorously there was a consistent expression of personal respect and deep concern for the peace, purity and unity of the Church.  Thank you, men, for correcting my junior highishness by your example!

Our dear friend, Harry Reeder (an Augusta boy!), did a remarkable job as our moderator.  Eminently respected throughout the PCA, he displayed good humor, humility and a firm grasp of the proceedings in order to navigate us through what many predicted to be a catastrophic Assembly (some do so every year by the way).  My gratitude for the PCA and our GA was put in perspective recently by a PCUSA minister friend.  He asked how ours went and I offered the above perspective.  Then he asked if I enjoyed the experience and I said I did.  (Though I am exhausted I really do enjoy it.  When I am not on the floor of GA I am meeting non-stop with other pastors for encouragement and advice.  I love the fellowship and sharpening).  My friend’s response was, “How different from ours!  Nothing but crazy and embarrassing extremism comes of it and I dread it more each year.”  Praise the Lord, for an excitingly boring Assembly!