Pros/Cons for an RE going to General Assembly

by | Nov 7, 2017 | RE Motivation | 0 comments

REs are different from TEs. 

Of course, the BCO provides that “Elders being of one class of office, ruling elders possess the same authority and eligibility to office in the courts of the Church as teaching elders.”  (BCO § 8-9)  But we also know that REs have a day job, while going to General Assembly is part of a TE’s job description.

For many TEs, General Assembly is a showcase of innovative worship styles, a trade show, several simultaneous seminary homecomings, and some parliamentary business.

If you’re an RE, its all business.  Its unlikely that you will run into many friends.  You’re probably more concerned about the regulative principle of worship than you are about “keeping it fresh.”  And, most importantly, you’re making significant sacrifices to be there:

  • you’re either losing vacation time or you’re not making sales if you’re self-employed;
  • you’re not able to help put the kids to bed or otherwise help your wife with the burdens of family life; and 
  • you’re worrying about the mountain of emails, voicemails, etc. accumulating while you’re gone and that you will have to deal with when you return.  
These are all real sacrifices.  There’s no denying it.  But they’re still worth making because the PCA needs our help.  
The PCA was never meant to work and does not work now without REs showing up and voting.  Our denomination was never meant to be run by a clerisy.  That is by design and for a reason.  If REs aren’t functioning as a concurrent majority in the courts of the PCA, the denomination doesn’t function properly.  
Without REs — the elders who bring real-world experience and perspectives to bear — the denomination loses perspective.
We’re not asking you to go to presbytery and General Assembly because it is fun or profitable.  We’re urging you to go because it is important. 
(Although, we’re not against fun and we have some ideas about that.  We got nothin’ on profitability.)

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