PCA advances report critical of some forms of Christian nationalism

Attendees at the annual General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, or PCA, voted Wednesday to make a partial report and pastoral letter on Christian nationalism widely available to churches and presbyteries, according to PCA magazine byFaith. The report, compiled by a committee of pastors chosen last year, included a list of affirmations and denials articulating a position at odds with some understandings of Christian nationalism. “The church—not the nation—is the primary community through which Christ manifests his reign in the present age,” the report said.

The denomination didn’t specify an exact count of votes for and against the recommendation of the report, but a livestream of the assembly vote appeared to show the majority of delegates in favor.

The report encouraged faithful political engagement. It stated that civil government should not coerce people of other religions to accept Christianity, seek to disrupt their worship gatherings, or exclude non-Christians from public office. The report’s authors further argued that elected officers in the PCA, such as elders, should hold to that same view of civil government, consistent with the 1788 revision of the Westminster Confession. The PCA uses the confession as its doctrinal standard, but the older 1646 version says that the government has the authority to oversee the church, combat heresies, and ensure that people follow God’s ordinances. The difference between the two versions is a subject of much debate.

The report further stated that America’s foundation in the Western liberal political tradition had brought about much good, but also allowed evil cultural developments such as the erosion of marriage and family. The report’s authors also warned that Christian nationalism was sometimes used as a justification for racism, ethnic segregation, misogyny, and coarse talk. They urged pastors to focus on the actual beliefs and practices of church members rather than the label of Christian nationalism—or opposition to it—since different definitions exist.

Why is the report characterized as “partial”? The final version of the report is scheduled to be released at the denomination’s 2027 General Assembly. The partial report contained several factual mistakes and needed additional edits before 2027, committee member David Strain said at the assembly. Delegates to next year’s assembly are expected to debate whether to adopt the final version of the report.

Members of the committee held different perspectives on the issue and debated with one another while working on the report, Strain said. He also noted that the committee would listen to and incorporate feedback it received on the partial report into the final version.

Dig deeper: Read Zoe Miller’s interview with the PCA’s new stated clerk, Fred Greco, who was just elected at the General Assembly.