PCA leaders support open gatherings for minorities

Leaders in the Presbyterian Church in America this week expressed their support for “affinity gatherings” where ethnic minorities or individuals with shared experiences can come together to worship. The PCA committee overseeing the denomination’s Mission to North America was responding to criticism of MNA Coordinator Irwyn Ince’s appearance at an event for black worshippers.

“MNA has recently received media attention on several issues, including our national coordinator’s participation at an affinity ministry event hosted at a PCA church in Oakland, California. The organizers of this event did not prohibit or turn away anyone from attending,” the Permanent Committee said in a statement issued Monday, after the committee’s spring meeting last week.

The Presbyterian Church in America includes about 2,000 congregations. Local congregations work together in presbyteries and send representatives to an annual General Assembly. That assembly can authorize the creation of agencies such as the Mission to North America, which assists congregations with church planting and charity work. The General Assembly also creates permanent committees to oversee those agencies.

Some PCA members initially worried that Ince’s appearance at the Oakland event, which was part of a slate of activities marking Black History Month, gave tacit approval to the exclusion of nonblack attendees from church gatherings. In its statement, the committee said it condemned any form of racism or segregation because such behavior was sinful and destroyed the peace of the church. But it drew a distinction between exclusive gatherings and those that encourage attendance by ethnic minorities but don’t bar others from coming.

“Prejudice and promotion of segregation have no Biblical support and should have no place in PCA ranks,” PCA General Assembly moderator Steve Dowling said. “Affinity groups of shared background or interests that gather to help everyone in our church grow in understanding of how to advance the gospel are a benefit and blessing to the PCA.”

The committee’s statement also said that leaders at Mission to North America will not attend racially exclusive events unless the committee overseeing the agency directs them to do so for the purpose of advancing the gospel.

“An example of such an exceptional circumstance would be an event hosted by a racially defined organization that presents an opportunity for our staff to engage in spiritually focused dialogue otherwise closed to Christians,” the committee said.

While it opposes any form of segregation, the committee said that MNA should lead the PCA in reflecting its diversity and unity.

“To deny persons of similar background and suffering the opportunity to gather for comfort, celebration, counsel, and mutual support would not further the gospel but would be a terrible expression of insensitivity and blindness to need,” MNA Coordinator Irwyn Ince said. “The MNA Permanent Committee should be commended for its clarity and unity regarding our opposition to all forms of prejudice that are a contradiction of the unity we share in Christ.”

Zachary Groff, a member of the MNA’s Permanent Committee, told WORLD the group clarified that affinity gatherings by nature were not exclusive or segregated events. “My personal concern moving forward is that churches and ministries that are committed to affinity spaces and groups clearly communicate that all are welcome,” Groff said. He added that he expects the denomination’s General Assembly to examine remaining discussion surrounding affinity groups later this year.