Conservative Presbyterians reject four proposals to curb sexual abuse – Baptist News Global

Southern Baptists aren’t the only U.S. denomination struggling with how to prevent and respond to clergy sexual abuse. The Presbyterian Church in America — the more conservative wing of U.S. Presbyterianism — finds itself in a knot as well. An all-male group of PCA commissioners recently voted down four proposals related to preventing sexual abuse while affirming a proposal to ensure women cannot be given the title “pastor,” “deacon” or “elder” in any PCA church. During debate on the proposed restriction on church job titles, Missouri Pastor Charles Stover said, “The peace and the purity of the church has been disturbed by churches attributing offices to candidates not qualified for said office.” Much like the restrictions enacted by the Southern Baptist Convention the same week in June, the PCA affirmed its theological position that Scripture prevents women from holding certain offices of church leadership named in the New Testament. Only ordained people may hold those titles, and only heterosexual males may be ordained. The 50-year-old conservative Presbyterian body has been rocked by salacious tales of abuse that were ignored, covered up and downplayed. Although the PCA has not conducted a massive investigation of mishandled sexual abuse cases as the SBC
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