The work of the PCA is carried on at the denominational
level by five permanent committees and five agencies. The five committees are:
the Administrative Committee (AC), the Committee on Christian Education and
Publications (CE&P), the Committee on Mission to North America (MNA), the Committee
on Mission to the World (MTW), and the Committee on Reformed University
Ministries (RUM, an admittedly unfortunate acronym). The five agencies are:
Covenant College (CC), Covenant Theological Seminary (CTS), PCA Retirement
& Benefits, Inc. (RBI), PCA Foundation (PCAF), and Ridge Haven Conference
Center (RHCC). Each of these committees and agencies present a report to each
GA. These reports include summaries of the activities of the committee or
agency throughout the year, a budget for the coming year, and a set of
recommendations for the coming year.
Before the official beginning of the assembly (that is, on
Monday and Tuesday of the meeting week) these reports are reviewed by
Committees of Commissioners (CoC), made up of either a TE or an RE from each of
the presbyteries (see RAO 14 for more information). That means that theoretically
each of these CoC has 80 members, though it is rarely the case that the number
approaches that total. In 2013, for example, the CoC for the Permanent Committees
consisted of the following numbers: AC-29, CE&P-21, MNA-25, MTW-38, and
RUM-29.
It is the responsibility of the CoC to review the reports of
the permanent committees and agencies. These reports are to be circulated at
least one month prior to GA, so that the commissioners may have time to review
and evaluate the reports, so that they are not unprepared when the time comes
for the CoC to meet. The committee may ask representatives of the committee or
agency questions regarding its report. The committee may also amend or change
the recommendations that constitute part of the report of the committee or
agency. Again, more detail appears in RAO 14.
For prospective commissioners to the GA, especially for
those who will be serving on a CoC, it is your responsibility to make sure you
are thoroughly acquainted with the material to be covered in the GA. For that
reason, I recommend that commissioners register as early as possible. Them when
you begin receiving material for GA, set apart time to review it. If you have
questions about any of it, ask your pastor (if you are an RE) or ask a more
seasoned minister in your presbytery (if you are a TE). Also make sure that you
have familiarized yourself with the BCO and the RAO.
In addition to these CoC, there are other committees that
meet annually for issues related to GA. These will be discussed in future
posts.
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