» Opinion: Spotted on YouTube

» News: Federal Vision Blog Zeitgeist

PCA FV/NPP study committee member Robert Mattes (Ruling Elder) has started a new blog wherein he discusses the FV controversy and engages in the online discussion concerning the FV. Mattes criticizes Douglas Wilson's book about slavery, drawing criticism from David Baly (PCA Pastor) and a response from Douglas Wilson. Mattes's followup is here.

In response to the passage of the Federal Vision study committee report's recommendations, Peter Leithart (PCA Pastor) drafted a letter to the Pacific Northwest Presbytery. Then, in a series of followup posts, Leithart has considered several related issues: infant baptism and saving benefits, infant baptism and the FV, paedocommunion and the FV, judgment according to works, academic freedom, the committee's procedures, justification by faith, the nature of what baptism confers, temporary salvation, sociology, judgment according to works (again), Charles Hodge on the same, Adamic merit, Gospel and judgment, Trinity and Judgment, Jesus as judge, justification and judgment, Leithart's own work on the topic of justification, freedom of inquiry, verdict and promise, sloganizing and controversy, faith and creaturehood, the covenant of life, assurance, promissary nature of baptism, a reading list of books influential to Leithart's thinking on these matters, catholicity and the PCA, and the theology of the cross.

In light of Leithart's letter and posts, accusations were made that implied he was "finally" expressing his true views on matters about which he previously dissembled - said R. Scott Clark (professor at Westminster Seminary California) "Here we have a clear indication that the FV/NPP committee was telling the truth and that, perhaps, like Arminius, some FV folk haven't been entirely forthcoming about what they actually believe." Another poster called Leithart's actions disingenuous. In response to these rumors, Leithart asked the Stated Clerk of the Pacific Northwest Presbytery, Robert Rayburn, to vouch for his honesty and plain dealing in their previous inquiries. Clark interpreted Leithart's letter as his "daring his presbytery to do something" - an interpretation he reiterated after being challenged by fellow members of the bbwarfield discussion group.

Leithart's letter is the first observable result of the passage of the Federal VIsision study committee's nine recommendations. We will report on any news concerning investigation by the Pacific Northwest Presbytery, or on any additional letters that may be published by pastors as a result of the study committee's recommendations.

Lane Keister (PCA pastor) has begun a series of responses to Leithart's work on justification here.

R. Scott Clark has posted several public letters (1, 2) calling upon elders, pastors, and laypeople in Reformed denominations to take action on the Federal Vision and against specific Federal Vision advocates. He writes, "GA has spoken and now the real work must begin."

Another noteworthy contribution to the current polemics of the FV issue is James Jordan's six-part essay "How to do Reformed Theology Nowadays". He writes, "So, the churches are miniature academies. People are not taught the Bible, but the confession of faith, over and over. When they go Back to Basics they study the book by that name and thereby get a course in systematic theology. I should have thought that the 'basics' were learning to chant all the psalms, getting a real practical knowledge of the laws of Exodus and Deuteronomy, and coming to be able to walk through every book of the Bible. But not for Calvinists. ... Now, what does this mean? It means that Calvinistic churches exist in a state of perpetual warfare. The Greek notion of truth as comparison and contrast reigns supreme. There is continual fighting over doctrine and continual suspicion of other Christians, especially those closest to us! The transformative purpose of the Church is virtually destroyed; hence pastoral counseling for damage control becomes an overwhelmingly large part of the church's effort."

One response to Federal Visioninsts that is easily observable on the internet is the alleging of a contradiction between the professed "high church" approach of the Federal Visionists and their not heeding the voice of many reformed denominations that have condemned the Federal Vision. A part of this argument concerns the CREC, the church to which many FV opponents call upon the FV men in their denominations to enter. It is alleged that the CREC is the creation of Douglas Wilson and that it represents a lack of catholicity and a further fragmentation within Protestantism. Douglas Wilson responds to these criticisms in a blog post, emphasizing the history of the CREC and its unique challenge of accommodating baptists and paedobaptists in the same church.

» News: PCA Adopts Recommendations of FV Study Committee

After rejecting a motion to postpone consideration of the report, the PCA General Assembly today adopted the recommendations of its Study Committee by a large majority. The committee report is available here (PDF). See our liveblogging below for a summary of the flow of the discussion.

We are making available an MP3 of the Federal Vision Committee Discussion: mp3 (20 MB).

» News: Signatures Increase to "Humble Answers" Letter

An update on a previously reported story - signatures added to the "Humble Answers" letter concerning the Federal Vision controversy in the PCA have been posted online. In addition to the original nine drafters, at the time of this news story, an additional 95 signatures have been added to the letter that seeks to defend the General Assembly study committee report from its detractors. Discussion of the Federal Vision issue is docketed for Wednesday afternoon at the PCA's general assembly and we will do our best to provide near-live coverage.

» News: PCA Federal Vision / NPP Committee Report Modified

The Presbyterian Church in America's Federal Vision / NPP study committee report appeared on the news magazine By Faith Online on about the 7th of May (printout of original). This week, the PCA posted another draft, newly formatted, to the General Assembly website (pdf). The two drafts are nearly identical, content-wise, but the committee made at least one content change that some bloggers online have noticed.

In one section, the original report reads:

Furthermore, some FV writers have also denied that the covenant can be viewed from two different aspects. John Barach observed that "the Bible doesn't know about a distinction between being internally in the covenant, really in the covenant, and being only externally in the covenant." Likewise, Steve Wilkins argued that "all in covenant are given all that is true of Christ." Doug Wilson has implied that all baptized covenant members are participants in Christ in the same "strong sense," writing that "the person who did not persevere was not given less of Christ."

In response to this section of the report, Douglas Wilson notes that the writing referenced by the committee for this "implication" actually affirms the opposite. Likewise, the response of Jeffrey Meyers notes this error.

The revised report reads this way:

Furthermore, some FV writers have also denied that the covenant can be viewed from two different aspects. John Barach observed that "the Bible doesn't know about a distinction between being internally in the covenant, really in the covenant, and being only externally the covenant." Likewise, Steve Wilkins argued that "all in covenant are given all that is true of Christ."

The sentence regarding Wilson's views has been removed in the version of the report that will be distributed to GA commisioners in the General Assembly in Memphis this June. The questions some are asking online include: what motivated the change? which report is the official one? will further changes be made prior to the GA meeting?

In an attempt to understand the factors motivating the committee to change the report, RN contacted the committee on May 17th to inquire about the content change. Committee Chair, Paul Fowler provided no explanation and noted in an email, acquired by RN, to his fellow committee members, "Any suggestions on how to respond? Since we agreed not to respond to such sites, I am not sure what to do?" In the end, Fowler responded "We simply will not get involved in the blogs."

Previously, on May 16th, Fowler responded favorably to our request for a response from the committee concerning Meyers' paper, writing, "We will respond when we have opportunity to evaluate it."

We will continue to develop this story and keep you informed if Fowler or the committee releases further clarification.

» News: PCA Federal Vision Study Report in Under the Wire

The PCA Federal Vision Study Report is currently available only at the PCA's denominational magazine. The General Assembly commissioner's handbook has been mailed out to participants and does not contain the report.

Committee member Sean Lucas reports that "the report will be part of the supplemental packet that all commissioners will receive when the register for GA. The committee literally worked until the very last day before the supplemental materials were to go to the printer. However, we wanted to make sure that commissioners had access to it prior to GA; that was why it was distributed first through ByFaithonline."

The lengthy report will be considered for adoption between 2:00 and 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 13 at the PCA's 34th General assembly in Memphis.

Editorial Comment: So far, there has been little debate of the report's content in the blogosphere. We will keep our ears to the ground and alert readers to discussions that develop.