June 12, 2009

This coming Lord’s Day is a glorious occasion in the life
of our church: the ordination and installation of new dea-
cons. The office of deacon is a perpetual office in the church,
and is one of sympathy and service, after the example of
Lord Jesus. It expresses the communion of the saints, espe-
cially in their helping one another in time of need. The dea-
cons are to set the pace for compassion and mercy among
the body of Christ, ministering to those who are in need, the
sick, the friendless, and any who may be in distress. They also
are entrusted with the funds and property of the church, and
seek to develop the grace of liberality in the members of the
church. The deacons allow the elders to devote their time to
prayer and the ministry of the word (see Acts 6:1-7). Our
Book of Church Order helpfully defines ordination for us,
based upon the Scriptures: “Ordination is the authoritative
admission of one duly called to an office in the Church of
God, accompanied with prayer and the laying on of hands, to
which it is proper to add the giving of the right hand of fel-
lowship.” It is an act of government, not a magic charm, by
which men are set apart to the work to which God has
called them. During the ordination service, vows will be
taken by both the deacons and the congregation. Here is the
vow you will take: “Do you, the members of this church, ac-
knowledge and receive these brothers as deacons, and do you
promise to yield them all that honor, encouragement and obedi-
ence in the Lord to which their office, according to the Word of
God and the Constitution of this Church, entitles them?” Pray that
God would give us all grace to keep our vows and to honor
the offices He has instituted in His Church. Pray for Jason
Morse, Wes Stevens, and Michael Savage, that God would
give them a heart of wisdom and compassion as they seek to
deny themselves for the sake of the body.
——————————–
Next week is one of the weeks I look forward to the
most each year: the week of our denomination’s General
Assembly (GA). What is GA? It is the gathering together of
elders from every presbytery across the country, for the
purpose of worship, deliberation on matters pertaining to
the denomination, instruction, and fellowship. The week be-
gins on Monday, with meetings of “Committees of Commis-
sioners.” The PCA has five permanent committees
(Administrative Committee, Christian Education and Publica-
tions, Mission to North America, Mission to the World, and
Reformed University Ministries) and four agencies (Covenant
College, Covenant Theological Seminary, Retirement and
Benefits, Incorporated, and Ridge Haven Conference Center)
that serve the church and carry out the ministry of the
church as a whole; the committees of commissions meet to
review the work of the permanent committees and agencies.
I happen to be on the Administrative Committee of Commis-
sioners this year, and I am looking forward to getting to
know more about the work of that permanent committee.
The assembly officially begins on Tuesday evening, with a
worship service and a sermon from the outgoing moderator,
and the election of a new moderator (the moderator alter-
nates between a teaching elder and a ruling elder). From
Wednesday morning to Friday morning, we hear reports,
and debate on issues that arise from the various committees.
The main bulk of debate occurs surrounding the various
“overtures” that are sent up from the Presbyteries. These
overtures seek to do something, say something, or change
something in the Book of Church Order. There is also debate
surrounding the Review of Presbytery Records. Since the PCA
is a connectional denomination, each presbytery must submit
its records to the General Assembly to be examined for theo-
logical integrity, wisdom, and submission to the Book of
Church Order. The Assembly also hears a report from the
Standing Judicial Commission, which decides and rules on cases
of discipline that come to the Assembly through a variety of
ways. If you’re interested, you can follow the entire GA by
watching a live video stream on the web at www.pcaga.com.
Each morning there are seminars offered on a range of
pastoral and Biblical-theological topics. Each evening there is a
worship service. And throughout the week, I look forward to
seeing old friends from around the country, meeting new peo-
ple, and gaining a new appreciation for what God is doing
through us and in us far and near. This year’s GA is at Disney
World (but don’t think that I’ll be hanging out with Mickey all
week; with all the meetings, I won’t see the light of day except
to eat meals). Darryl Richards will also be representing our
church as a commissioner, and Robert Row, who will be down
in Orlando taking an RTS preaching class, will also be visiting
when he is able. I’ll have more to say about this year’s GA
after I return.
Some years it has worked out for Elizabeth to come with
me to GA, but this year she and the children will be heading
down south to see family and friends in Mississippi and Louisi-
ana. Please pray for our safety as we go our separate ways.
Speaking of prayer, I encourage you to pray through the GA
prayer requests listed on Page One. And I covet your prayers
personally as I head from GA to Dale Hollow State Park for a
week of study and prayer. Mark 6:31-32 tells us, “And Jesus said
to His disciples, ‘Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and
rest a while.’ (For there were many people coming and going, and
they did not even have time to eat.) 32 They went away in the boat
to a secluded place by themselves.” Don’t worry, I have had time
to eat; but I do desire to get away to a secluded place with my
Savior and spend time prayerfully reflecting upon this past
year, studying for upcoming sermon series, and being renewed
and reinvigorated in His grace. Please pray that God would be
gracious to me as I seek His face and His wisdom. Pray specifi-
cally that I will be able to get ahead on my sermons, so that I
might be freed up in the days to come to be a better pastor to
you.
——————————–
Jeff and Cathy Wilkins, our new RUF Campus Minister at
Tennessee Tech, will be moving to Cookeville in August, Lord
willing. We are planning a good old Grace welcome; more
information will be provided in the next few weeks.  Please be
praying for them, that their house would sell in Raleigh and
that all the details of their move would work out. Also, pray
that the Lord would provide all the financial support needed
for him and his ministry here at TTU. We support RUF at
TTU as a church, but if you would like to give more individu-
ally (and I encourage you to do so), you can contact Jeff at
jwilkins@ruf.org.
Caleb