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I believe the PCA refers to it as "exhortation," limiting "preaching" to ordained ministers of the Gospel (Teaching Elders).
I believe the PCA refers to it as "exhortation," limiting "preaching" to ordained ministers of the Gospel (Teaching Elders).
Thanks for the info. I had heard this distinction not only from friends, but also at last year's GA in the outgoing moderator's sermon. It seems then that the PCA holds less distinction between teaching and ruling elders than the OPC. Is that accurate?I believe the PCA refers to it as "exhortation," limiting "preaching" to ordained ministers of the Gospel (Teaching Elders).
This is a distinction typically employed in OPC circles. It is incorrect in the PCA, since the entire premise of being licensed to preach is that such licensure applies to those who preach "regularly." Others who preach may do so on an irregular basis.
(This is also, by the way, why the dictum that "a woman may do anything an unordained man may do" is wrong on its face. Unordained men may preach in accordance with the BCO.)
I believe the PCA refers to it as "exhortation," limiting "preaching" to ordained ministers of the Gospel (Teaching Elders).
This statement is untrue, and is a distinction only pushed with regularity in our circles by high church ministers who would like to promote their particular view of the offices.
The BCO makes no separation between teaching elders, ruling elders, or even licentiates when it comes to the authority of preaching. Furthermore, in every case the BCO rightly employs the term "exhort/exhortation" in accordance with its biblical use, namely, in describing a particular function of preaching, and not as an attempt to make a distinction in levels of authority regarding the message given.
Our authority in preaching comes not from our formal ordination (which is Romanism), but from our accuracy and faithfulness in expounding the Scriptures, and from the power of the Holy Spirit applying the truth of the given message to the heart and to the mind. I have yet to receive a satisfying answer from those who promote this "class distinction" when they are asked whose sermon has more authority - the chump who is ordained, but through laziness and/or theological error puts out a poor sermon, or the formally unordained man who through prayer, diligence in study, and the grace of the Holy Spirit gives an outstanding sermon? I seem to remember that Christ himself was not ordained by the authorities in Jerusalem, and yet the people were amazed, because he "taught them as one having authority, not as the Scribes".
Btw, John Owen makes the same argument in a sermon on the pastoral ministry, so this is nothing original.
Thanks for the info. I had heard this distinction not only from friends, but also at last year's GA in the outgoing moderator's sermon. It seems then that the PCA holds less distinction between teaching and ruling elders than the OPC. Is that accurate?I believe the PCA refers to it as "exhortation," limiting "preaching" to ordained ministers of the Gospel (Teaching Elders).
This is a distinction typically employed in OPC circles. It is incorrect in the PCA, since the entire premise of being licensed to preach is that such licensure applies to those who preach "regularly." Others who preach may do so on an irregular basis.
(This is also, by the way, why the dictum that "a woman may do anything an unordained man may do" is wrong on its face. Unordained men may preach in accordance with the BCO.)
Do you have a citation for this sermon, Mr. Myer? I would love to read it.
Thanks for the info. I had heard this distinction not only from friends, but also at last year's GA in the outgoing moderator's sermon. It seems then that the PCA holds less distinction between teaching and ruling elders than the OPC. Is that accurate?This is a distinction typically employed in OPC circles. It is incorrect in the PCA, since the entire premise of being licensed to preach is that such licensure applies to those who preach "regularly." Others who preach may do so on an irregular basis.
(This is also, by the way, why the dictum that "a woman may do anything an unordained man may do" is wrong on its face. Unordained men may preach in accordance with the BCO.)
Yes, that would be accurate. The OPC tends very strongly to a three office view (TE, RE, Deacon), whereas the PCA's BCO is explicitly two-office (elder, deacon). In practice it sometimes works itself out with a greater or lesser distinction, hence the term "two and one half office" view.
(This is also, by the way, why the dictum that "a woman may do anything an unordained man may do" is wrong on its face. Unordained men may preach in accordance with the BCO.)
Recommendation No. 4:
That the General Assembly reaffirm the historic Presbyterian position expressed in LC 158, that none should preach the Gospel but those who are called and gifted of God; and therefore only those men who are properly ordained or licensed may preach in the pulpits of the PCA; and that Ruling Elders be allowed and encouraged to renew the historic practice of exhorting the people of God (See Rec. No. 5, paragraph D.). Adopted
Tim,
that would be an "in thesi" non binding statment of a GA. It does not have the force of the BCO.
I assumed to preach in worship, one must be ordained.
I am relatively new to the PCA. Does the PCA allow for a ruling elder to preach? I guess it must because it is going to happen i my church this week, but is this something that occurs with any regularity? I assumed to preach in worship, one must be ordained.
(This is also, by the way, why the dictum that "a woman may do anything an unordained man may do" is wrong on its face. Unordained men may preach in accordance with the BCO.)
I agree with you, Pastor Greco. However, in all the hundreds of PCA services I've attended across the country, I've never heard an unordained man preach. So while technically correct, in practice I doubt unordained men preach in Sunday services very often. In a large church with multiple TEs, I suspect it never happens.
Since we've established that the PCA allows both TEs and REs to preach, may I ask why it is that only TEs can administer the sacraments? I can understand the reason from a three-office view (TEs are charged with preaching and the sacraments accompany preaching), but I feel like I'm missing something about the PCA two-office view.
This is why in our OPC church before we called a Pastor the RE's would read sermons from the pulpit rather than preach a sermon however our RE's are very involved in teaching in Bible Studies and other forums. We also have several elder (notice I didn't say "elders" ) women in the Church who have taken on the responsibity of teaching the younger women through weekly Bible studies.
This is why in our OPC church before we called a Pastor the RE's would read sermons from the pulpit rather than preach a sermon however our RE's are very involved in teaching in Bible Studies and other forums. We also have several elder (notice I didn't say "elders" ) women in the Church who have taken on the responsibity of teaching the younger women through weekly Bible studies.
I have to say that here is one reason that I disagree with the three office view. I have been both an RE and a TE. The idea that you must read a sermon because you are not permitted (note I did not say unable) to preach God's Word is ridiculous to me.