The work of the PCA often ripples beyond our denominational boundaries. From its founding, the PCA has understood the importance of maintaining relationships, formally and informally, with other churches and denominations.
When our founding fathers decided to form a new denomination, one of their first acts was to compose a “Message to All Churches of Jesus Christ throughout the world.” In it, our faithful forefathers shared their vision and values while requesting prayer and support from their brothers and sisters across the globe.
Today, the PCA continues to enjoy a vital and beneficial relationship with other churches and denominations. Local churches, pastors and congregations often form meaningful connections with other local churches to advance the mission of Christ in their communities.
At the denominational level, the work of our committees and agencies benefits denominations other than our own.
- MTW forges partnerships with Reformed denominations in different countries, providing them resources and personnel to multiply Presbyterian churches.
- Geneva Benefits Group provides financial services for other denominations and parachurch ministries.
- Reformed University Fellowship ministers on college campuses to students from a variety of backgrounds.
- Covenant College welcomes students from other evangelical denominations.
- The PCA Foundation facilitates gifts for churches and denominations outside the PCA.
These are multiplying effects of PCA ministry efforts. Though every committee and agency is governed by the PCA General Assembly, its impact extends beyond the PCA.
As the PCA grows, it requires the Administrative Committee to provide even more organization and coordination to help our churches, committees, and agencies carry out their mission that can have impact far beyond our organizational and national borders. This includes developing tools and resources that help churches, presbyteries, and the General Assembly with issues common to them and other bodies of believers.
Though these resources and tools are created and coordinated by the Administrative Committee for the flourishing of the PCA, they often benefit other denominations. For instance:
The PCA’s study committee reports are often used as a resource by other denominations, seminaries, and associations. A number have been translated into other languages to benefit churches across the world.
Our pastor search resources are commonly accessed by pastors and churches across the denominational spectrum. Even our pastor search process packet is utilized by churches outside the PCA.
As a member of NAPARC, (North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council), the PCA enjoys a formal relationship where we can mutually encourage other denominations who share our Reformed theological distinctions. Informally, leaders from the PCA are often invited to collaborate and participate in broader evangelical gatherings such as the recent Lausanne Congress, as well as the gatherings of other denominations in Ireland, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Ghana, New Zealand, Australia and many more nations.
Because the AC makes the PCA’s doctrinal standards available online, thousands of users from many backgrounds view the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechism every month to better understand the Bible’s system of doctrine.
Though our discussions and deliberations are mostly done with a focus on the health of our particular branch of Christ’s Church, other parts of Christ’s body often benefit from it. As God has grown the ministry of the PCA, our shared ministry ripples beyond our denominational boundaries. The elders who started the PCA in 1973 could not have envisioned all the ways the Lord would prosper the PCA and use it as a blessing to the wider Church.
As the Administrative Committee, we are honored to design and provide support services to local churches, presbyteries, and the General Assembly. And we are glad to see God use these services to strengthen other parts of Christ’s body.