Ashley's Story Part 1: What Was Happening at Home

In the state where Ashley grew up and now lives, clergy are mandatory reporters of child abuse. That was not the case when Ashley was a minor, however, that does not excuse the callousness and neglect she experienced when reaching out to church leaders for help. For more information on state laws about clergy and mandatory reporting, see the document Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Abuse and Neglect.

Here are two sections of the Book of Church Order (BCO) about the nomination and election of officers as referenced in the podcast.

24-3. All communing members in good and regular standing, but no others, are entitled to vote in the election of church officers in the churches to which they respectively belong. A majority vote of votes cast (excluding blanks and abstentions) is required for election.

24-4. The voters being convened, the moderator shall explain the purpose of the meeting and then put the question: Are you now ready to proceed to the election of additional ruling elders (or deacons) from the slate presented? If they declare themselves ready, the election may proceed by private ballot without nomination. In every case a majority of all the votes cast (excluding blanks and abstentions) shall be required to elect.

Another section was recently added to the BCO (final approval in 2023) that may be relevant in such cases. This language was designed to respond to concerns about officers referring to themselves as "gay" or "same-sex attracted". However, it may be useful in cases where abuse has been reported about a man standing for election to office:

"In the examination of the nominee’s personal character, the Session shall give specific attention to potential notorious concerns. Careful attention must be given to his practical struggle against sinful actions, as well as to persistent sinful desires. The nominee must give clear testimony of reliance upon his union with Christ and the benefits thereof by the Holy Spirit, depending on this work of grace to make progress over sin. ... [T]he Session may render a decision on Christian experience at any point in the process, and based on that decision, may judge him ineligible for that election."

This passage makes it clear that without the need of a formal judicial process, a session may at any time in the process determine a man ineligible for election to office based on their knowledge of his character and what practical measures he is taking to resist persistent sinful desires.

For more information on the process of nominating and electing officers in PCA churches, see Video 3 in the series An Inside Look at the PCA here.

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