Over the last six years, Will Huss has served as the National Coordinator for RUF leading the ministry through a number of substantial organizational initiatives including growing to over 190 ministries, developing a new recruiting model for future ministry staff, securing the cooperative ministry agreements, as well as celebrating the 50th anniversary of the ministry. 

The permanent committee of Reformed University Fellowship met today and issued the following statement:
At the most recent meeting of the Permanent Committee for Reformed University Fellowship on August 19, 2024, Mr. Will Huss announced his intention to step down from his position as National Coordinator in the upcoming year. Mr. Huss’ resignation will be effective June 27, 2025, following the regularly scheduled meeting of the General Assembly. The Permanent Committee is grateful for the ministry and impact of Will Huss. The Lord has graciously used him and his leadership to help RUF mature in organizational health, financial stability, ecclesiastical connection, and ministry development all toward our goal of reaching students for Christ and equipping them to serve.  We celebrate his ministry among us and look forward to his service to RUF and the PCA over the next 10 months.
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The Assembly voted  to answer Overture 33, Erect Ad Interim Committee on the Book Jesus Calling, in the affirmative as amended. The vote was 947-834-20. Rather than establishing a study committee, the amended language is to request reports from the permanent committees of Mission to the World and PCA Discipleship Ministries (CDM). Read the amended language here.

The Assembly reconvened at 8:00 a.m. and heard the reports of the committees of commissioners for the PCA Foundation and PCA Discipleship Ministries (CDM). The Assembly voted to accept the recommendations of those reports.
The Assembly heard the report of the Administrative Committee. The Assembly voted to accept most of the recommendations from the Committee of Commissioners on the Administrative Committee as part of an omnibus motion. Recommendation 1, the election of Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell, was pulled from the omnibus and passed by a vote of 892-259-22.
The Assembly voted to accept in omnibus the recommendations from the Overtures Committee on all overtures EXCEPT 1, 3, 7, 13, 14, 17, 26, 28, and 33.
The Assembly voted to accept the recommendation on Overture 17, Amend BCO 13-6, 21-4, and 24-1 to Require Background Checks for Church Office, in the affirmative as amended. Read the amended language here. 
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Because of TE Goligher’s refusal to comply with the lawful proceedings of this court in defiance of BCO 32-6b, these proceedings are hindered and continuing without due repentance from TE Goligher for his contumacy poses a serious risk to the wellbeing of witnesses and victims named in these proceedings. In accord with BCO 34-4, TE Liam Goligher is: Immediately suspended from the sacraments and his office for his contumacy.

Philadelphia Presbytery has provided byFaith with a statement that contains an update on the judicial process currently underway involving Teaching Elder Liam . This case originates from accusations that surfaced regarding Goligher as previously reported. The presbytery’s statement is as follows:
In the name of the Presbyterian Church in America, the ad hoc Judicial Commission of the Philadelphia Presbytery in regards to TE Liam Goligher finds him contumacious….
The accused objectively hindered the proceedings of this court, and acted against the peace, unity and purity of the Church, and the honor and majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the King and Head thereof.
Because of TE Goligher’s refusal to comply with the lawful proceedings of this court in defiance of BCO 32-6b, these proceedings are hindered and continuing without due repentance from TE Goligher for his contumacy poses a serious risk to the wellbeing of witnesses and victims named in these proceedings.
In accord with BCO 34-4, TE Liam Goligher is:
“Immediately suspended from the sacraments and his office for his contumacy.”
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The committee provided the following rationale for their decision: “The concerns that have been raised about the seminar and its topic have been so significant that it seems wisest for the peace and unity of the church not to proceed in this way. Instead, the seminar time will be allocated to a prayer convocation that humbly petitions our God for the good of his church in a polarized political year, utilizing the means of grace provided by our Lord for his people.”

Last week, the PCA’s Administrative Committee announced a special assembly-wide panel discussion to be held at the upcoming General Assembly in Richmond, Virginia. After making this announcement, the AC’s office has heard from a number of people voicing opposition to the panel as well as those wanting it to take place as planned.
Most of the attention was centered on the selection of David French as a panelist. French is an Army veteran, former attorney, and an opinion columnist for The New York Times. He’s also an evangelical Christian and until recently was a member of a PCA congregation in the Nashville area.
In response to the concerns, PCA Stated Clerk Bryan Chapell invited the permanent committee of the AC to meet today and decide whether the panel should proceed as planned. The permanent committee met via video conference and agreed to the following: “That the General Assembly Plenary Seminar, ‘Supporting Your Pastor and Church Leaders in a Polarized Political Year’ not be offered.”
The committee provided the following rationale for their decision:
The concerns that have been raised about the seminar and its topic have been so significant that it seems wisest for the peace and unity of the church not to proceed in this way. Instead, the seminar time will be allocated to a prayer convocation that humbly petitions our God for the good of his church in a polarized political year, utilizing the means of grace provided by our Lord for his people.  
Following the committee’s decision, Bryan Chapell issued the following statement:
I apologize to the members and staff of the Administrative Committee for the controversy over the upcoming General Assembly seminar. Concerns about a panel participant have caused some brothers to be concerned for the witness of our church and other brothers to be concerned for how our church processes differing views while protecting reputations. I am thankful for both sets of brothers, and regret that my composition of panelists has put them at odds with each other. 
The purpose of the seminar was to help our churches deal with political tensions and, instead, controversy has ensued. This is contrary to the intended purposes of the seminar and the purposes that AC members and staff have so conscientiously pursued with me over the last four years. We have worked together to advance the peace and unity of the church, trying to build trust and godly expression among those of differing viewpoints. 
Had I known some of the ways that the panelist has expressed himself or been understood in past writings, I would have made a different choice for the purposes of this seminar. Without seeking to debate or invalidate the merits of any brothers’ concerns, I acknowledge that I did not become aware of significant background issues before making this decision. This was my mistake, and I apologize to the PCA that I love.
For the past two decades, seminars have been a staple of the PCA’s annual gathering. More recently, Assemblies have also included an assembly-wide seminar focused on a relevant topic and featuring a panel of credible voices on the issue. These seminars have covered a wide range of topics from the mission of the church to racial reconciliation and the future of the PCA.
The 51st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America is scheduled to convene June 10-14 in Richmond, Virginia.
Source: ByFaith Staff
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The 50th PCA General Assembly concluded business in Memphis, TN and adjourned until next year in Richmond, VA.

The Assembly reconvened at 8:00 a.m. During the Covenant College report, Derek Halvorson offered the following highlights:
Admissions – In the fall of 2021, we welcomed 292 new students from 33 states and 8 countries; this was 22 students over our Fall 2021 enrollment goal.
Campus & Facilities – During the 2021-2022 year, Facilities Management completed the replacement of field turf at Scotland Yard, installation of air conditioning in Barnes Gym, and ADA interior signage improvements.
Development & Finances – Donors gave over $7.2 million to Covenant during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, including gifts to the IMPACT Endowment Campaign, student scholarships, and support for the college’s operations. In March of 2022, the college concluded the IMPACT Campaign with $32,165,000 in gifts and pledges to the college’s endowment, exceeding the campaign goal of $30,000,000.
Student Life – The Covenant College Athletic Department experienced significant success across all programs. We prioritize strong discipleship models, stand-out academic success, intentional recruiting, and a holistic pursuit of excellence. Athletically, 9 programs finished in the top 4 of the USA South standings (Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Volleyball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s Basketball, Women’s Track, Men’s and Women’s Tennis), while Men’s and Women’s Soccer both won the conference championship.
The General Assembly adopted the following recommendation from the Covenant College Committee of Commissioners:
That the General Assembly thank and praise God for the 11 years of fruitful service of President, Dr. J. Derek Halvorson. Echoing the expression of thanks from the Board of Trustees, the Committee of Commissioners wishes to highlight the following:
Under Dr. Halvorson’s faithful leadership, Covenant College completed its largest endowment campaign, raising over $32 million in gifts and pledges, saw the extensive renovation of Carter Hall, and enjoyed a dramatic improvement in four-year and six-year graduation rates. Dr. Halvorson helped to introduce new majors and certificate programs, oversaw the transition of the College from NAIA to NCAA Division III and led the College through a global health pandemic with a sure and steady hand. Dr. Halvorson has fulfilled the duties of his office with exemplary wisdom and grace and has been a great blessing to the institution and to the denomination. His warmth and winsome demeanor has been a credit to the College and the General Assembly gives praise to God for his leadership as president and herein expresses their thanks to Dr. Halvorson for his service.
Irwyn Ince, coordinator for Mission to North America (MNA), offered his report to the Assembly. Here are some highlights:
In the next 10 years MNA will strive to facilitate the multiplication of PCA churches from 1,994 to 3,000 congregations. In order to accomplish this vision, the following must be true:

Ongoing Focus and Commitment to Church Vitality: As our churches grow in health and the rhythm of renewal through the means of grace, our heart for the lost and commitment to neighbor love in Jesus’ name will also grow.
Multiplying Church Planting: The multiplication of churches that will be faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the great commission will take the prayer-saturated, collaborative effort of our whole denomination.

We must provide structures to revitalize PCA churches. Church planting and church vitality must simultaneously feed each other. We invite every church, presbytery, committee, and agency to join us in the challenge to pray that our Lord grant the unity, collaboration, love, sacrifice, and perseverance that is required to pursue this vision. In the 4th quarter of 2023 MNA will provide a detailed document on The Path Forward for Church Planting Vitality for consideration by our presbyteries, sessions, and network leaders.
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The 50th PCA General Assembly continues through June 16, 2023 in Memphis, TN.

The Assembly-wide seminar, “Memories and Aspirations of our Founding Fathers and Sons,” took place at 8:00 a.m. You can watch the replay here.
In the report of the Review of Presbytery Records, the Assembly approved the recommendation that Metropolitan New York Presbytery appear before the Standing Judicial Commission to adjudicate several matters pertaining to proceedings on the Lord’s Day. For more details, read here.
The Assembly approved the recommendation that Northwest Georgia Presbytery appear before the Standing Judicial Commission to adjudicate a matter pertaining to the approval of calls and installation of three candidates. For more details, read here.
The Interchurch Relations Committee gave its report.
Reformed University Fellowship Coordinator Will Huss gave the RUF report. Below are some of his highlights:
Reformed University Fellowship International – There are currently 21 RUF-I Campus ministries. We began RUF-I at Cal Berkeley and the University of Florida in January of 2023. We plan to add two more campus ministries in June 2023 (Vanderbilt and UC San Diego).
Reformed University Fellowship Global  – We currently have 4 RUF-G, where we have an American TE (Traditional Model). These RUF-Globals are in Tokyo, Japan; L’viv, Ukraine; Bogota, Colombia; and Dakar, Senegal. We currently have 2 RUF-Globals that national ordained Presbyterian ministers lead in Mexico City, Mexico, and Kampala, Uganda (National Model). In 2022 we initiated a pilot program of training non-ordained MTW and Serge missionaries who are engaged in campus ministry in three different cities, Cluj, Romania (Serge); Sofia, Bulgaria; and Tokyo, Japan. We are considering making this program, called the “RUF Affiliate Model,” an official part of RUF-Global.
Ministry Distinctives – Weekly large group, small groups, and one-on-one staff-student meetings provide the structure for campus ministry. Each type of meeting is essential in ministering to college students.
Campus Interns, Staff & Ministry Fellows – Launched in 1980, the Intern Program has trained over 900 interns. In the last 30 years, the program has grown at a rate of 13% per year. Emily Nixon, Assistant Vice President of Internships, continues to lead the department and this year we have 137 full-time and three part-time young men and women (all recent college graduates) that currently work directly with a campus minister and receive on-the-job training in evangelism, small group leadership, and one-on-one ministry.
The Assembly voted to require the RUF permanent committee to give a response to the 51st General Assembly on the following matter:
The permanent committee of Reformed University Fellowship approved a new “Affiliation Agreement” between Presbyteries and RUF concerning Campus Ministers, changing the agreement to make sure that RUF is the legal employee with the responsibility to hire, fire, and exercise fiduciary control.
Tom Gibbs, president of Covenant Theological Seminary, gave the report for Covenant Seminary. Highlights include the following:
To better ensure that our priorities remain clear and that we are serving our students and the church to the best of our ability, I’ve been leading the Seminary through a period of intensive evaluation and assessment aimed at producing a revised and updated Strategic Plan to guide us for the next five years.
The Strategic Plan is built around six main pillars already identified and agreed upon by the President’s Cabinet.

Prioritize the recruitment of pastor-minded students.
Strengthen the overall theological preparedness of our students.
Sharpen our focus on the spiritual formation of our students.
Strengthen and develop our emphasis on cross-cultural mission: locally and

globally.

Promote organizational sustainability through proven financial management strategies despite a challenging economic environment.
Better steward our relationship with the PCA as we seek to provide its next generation of ministry leaders.

Our desire in all this is that the life and work of Covenant Seminary would be characterized not only by the principles implied in our purpose statement (“To glorify the triune God by training his servants to walk in God’s grace, minister God’s Word, and equip God’s people—all for God’s mission”) but also by our institutional values:
Christ-Centered Ministry—We believe that a seminary education is successful only if—at its end—the student knows Jesus Christ more intimately than at its beginning.
Biblical Authority—We believe that the Bible is the Word of God and therefore it is our only infallible rule of faith and practice.
Grace Foundation—We believe that the foundation for all that we do must be the gospel of grace—our absolute confidence in God’s acceptance provided through his redemptive work as the supreme motivation and enablement for love and holiness.
Relational Emphasis—We believe that relationships between students and professors must take a meaningful place alongside teaching content, so that the entire character of the student—mind and heart—might be transformed for ministry.
Pastoral Training—We believe that our primary task is to train students for pastoral ministry—including church planting, campus ministry, chaplaincy, and missionary service.
Church Leadership—We believe that, as the Seminary of the PCA, it is our responsibility to provide pastoral training that is grounded in the Westminster Standards and the historic distinctives of Presbyterian orthodoxy while equipping the next generation of Christian servants for effective church leadership in a changing world.
Kingdom Perspective—We believe that God’s ultimate purpose is the gathering of his people from every nation and the renewal of all things.
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