The Church’s Mission Beyond the PCA: The Role of Interchurch Relations
Maybe you’ve wondered why members of other denominations address our Assembly each year and how or why those delegates are invited. That is just one facet of the Stated Clerk’s work and Administrative Committee’s support of the PCA’s Interchurch Relations Committee (IRC).
The Interchurch Relations Committee serves “as liaison between the Presbyterian Church in America and other denominations and church councils as approved by the Assembly.” RE Dennis Watts from the Mississippi Valley Presbytery currently serves as chairman of the IRC. We sat down with him to better understand the committee’s work and the progress of our relationships with other denominations.
Why are inter-church relations so important to the PCA and the Kingdom?
In Scripture, we find several attributes of the Church of which one is unity. For example, Psalm 133 speaks of how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity and Ephesians 4 encourages us to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Interchurch relations, rooted in the truth of God’s Word, demonstrates our commitment before one another and the world that we are united in purpose and mission.
Such fellowship enables us to advise, counsel, and cooperate in making the invisible Kingdom visible. Moreover, it is a reminder to each of us that our true citizenship is in the Kingdom of God…a Kingdom that is greater than any earthly kingdom.
What are some examples of partnership or synergy that have grown out of our fraternal and corresponding relationships with other denominations?
The biggest thing that I know of … was the inclusion of NAPARC members in Geneva Benefits…something that they are very thankful for us doing. Secondly, we are partnering with some NAPARC members in disaster relief. We were already partnered with the OPC and now we are expanding it. Lastly, I was in Brazil on a mission trip a couple of summers ago (with a member church in the Presbyterian Church in Brazil) and they kept introducing me as the chair of the IRC because that was important to them.
What can you share about new or upcoming relationships?
The 2025 General Assembly approved the establishment of corresponding relationships with the Presbyterian Church of Australia and the Universal Reformed Christian Church of Nigeria. Previously, the General Assembly has approved entering into fraternal relationships with eight denominations and in corresponding relationships with an additional eight denominations.
In short, those with whom we are in fraternal relationships may be defined by their commitment to a doctrine and polity similar to those of the PCA while those with whom we are in corresponding relationships may be defined by their commitment to the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith, the sovereignty of God, and other common interests such as the sanctity of life and marriage between one man and one woman; but they may hold divergent views in some doctrines and polity.
The Assembly’s Interchurch Relations Committee meets to review information received from some additional denominations to see if there is a possibility to establish formal relationships and to improve upon current relationships.
How does the IRC’s work encourage you?
The work of the IRC is encouraging to me because I have been able to see the love and concern of our brothers in Christ outside of my day-to-day interactions with brothers in the various denominations common in the South. Conversations with these brothers at the annual NAPARC meeting and during our General Assembly has provided me the opportunity to better understand our diversity in the non-essentials even within our unity in the essentials.
This communication has encouraged me in that we have been able to exhibit charity to one another, pray with and for one another, and daily focus on each doing our part to advance the Kingdom.
How can the PCA pray for the IRC?
I don’t think prayers for the members of the IRC are any different than prayers for members of each of the PCA permanent committees….we all need discernment. Sinclair Ferguson has written that, “True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”
For the IRC, true discernment is needed in our evaluation of both our current fraternal and corresponding relationships but also in the establishment of new fraternal and corresponding relationships. The members of the IRC desire to see the Kingdom of God advanced. If members of the IRC are gifted with such discernment, then we are able to recommend to the Assembly faithful brothers who we can trust to teach the Gospel and labor alongside us in our Kingdom work