City Church of San Francisco to Leave the PCA
When I lived in Berkeley, CA (1999-2004), I made a few visits to worship with City Church, a vibrant body of 800 or so attendees (as of 2003) in the heart of the city. An affiliate of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, NY, City Church sought to reach out to San Francisco with a theologically Reformed framework and methodological winsomeness akin to that of Tim Keller.
One of the tenets of the PCA is the belief that the ecclesiastical offices of the church (elders and deacons) are open only to qualified males. Sadly, City Church is now leaving the PCA over that particular issue. CBMW reports that City Church's congregation and its pastors recently told presbytery officials, "The elders of this church find themselves out of accord with BCO chapters 8 and 9, which assume the role of deacon and elder are for qualified males only. We have changed our views and believe that the ecclesiastical offices of the church are open to both men and women, and can no longer with good conscience prohibit women from these offices."
According to the CBMW report, the North California Presbytery of the PCA granted their request to leave the PCA on June 10, 2006. City Church is pursuing affiliation with the Reformed Church in America (RCA). Though more moderate than the PC(USA), the RCA website acknowledges that "deep divisions" exist within the denomination over homosexuality.
I am personally discouraged by this development, as I believe that the egalitarian position is not only unfaithful to the Scriptures, but that, as our understanding of manhood and womanhood touches all of life, this shift will inevitably have unintended consequences. In the past I have enjoyed my visits to City Church, have had numerous conversations with their leadership, and have recommended the church to others. Another reason for sadness is that I am no longer aware of any strong, calvinistic, complementarian church in San Francisco that I can recommend. If you know of one, please inform us in the comments section.
I have also written City Church's leadership and expressed my concern. However, since these matters have been disclosed publicly, I feel at liberty to also comment publicly.
Update: Mike Hayes (Executive Pastor) informed me via e-mail that City Church leadership was persuaded over the past year of an egalitarian position regarding I Tim 2:8-15 and other related texts. In short, they believe that while the complementarian position is possible, the egalitarian position represents a better understanding of both the grammar and historical setting. Based on this understanding of Scripture, Hayes reports, they consequently found themselves out of accord with the PCA Book of Church Order chapters 8 and 9, which assume the role of deacon and elder are for qualified males only.
Update #2: If you are looking for an outstanding scholarly response to egalitarian arguments of I Tim 2:8-15 and other important passages, see Wayne Grudem's tome, Evangelical Feminism and Biblical Truth, which is also available electronically.
Comments
Alex - you are correct as far as I know. I talked to several people at our recent General Assembly who are "in the know" and they confirm that City Church has left the PCA for the RCA. Maybe there is still some technical tie while they wait for acceptance in the RCA but from what I understand, they are gone.
Posted by: David Wayne | July 6, 2006 09:11 AM
I had heard about this a few months ago. I am discouraged that they are joining the RCA when the more conservative Christian Reformed Church and Evangelical Presbyterian Church also allow female ordination.
The RCA is not just split on homosexuality, but they are not united on the gospel. For example, Robert H. Schuller has been an RCA minister for over fifty years, and he very clearly denies the exclusivity of the gospel of Christ for salvation.
Posted by: Don Lowe | July 6, 2006 10:49 AM
I am a ruling elder in the Northern California PCA and was present when this whole thing took place. It is very sad and tragic. While they left on amicable terms it is still tragic to see them part for, what I believe to be, very unscriptural reasons. They are joining the RCA as soon as they are officially accepted. They still want to maintain strong ties within the PCA, but how far those ties will go will be determined by us at our next Presbytery meeting in October. Please keep our Presbytery in your prayers as this is something that has our heads spinning right now. God bless.
Posted by: Chad Hertzell | July 6, 2006 08:46 PM
Alex,
I've attended City Church (on and off) over the past several years in SF. What do you suppose this will mean, if anything, for the several church plants City Church has done in the Bay Area?
I'm looking around for a new church currently. I don't know, maybe one of their East Bay or South Bay plants will be a good choice...
Posted by: Rich | July 21, 2006 09:25 PM
Rich,
City Church was supposed to be overseeing a few PCA church plants. This information was still on City Church's website last I checked. I know there was one in Berkeley and another in Walnut Creek. I am told that City Church will continue to oversee these plants, even though the plants are to remain in the PCA. That seems like a strange set-up in my humble opinion, and I wonder how well it will work logistically down the road. And, yes, it would make me at least inquisitive about the convictions of those church plants regarding women in ministry. You might want to ask them directly.
Another reason for my concern is that there was a PCA church in Berkeley called New Church, but last Christmas I was told (by another Bay Area PCA pastor) that New Church had recently left the PCA, though for different reasons.
Maybe someone with more insight on the situation could comment.
Posted by: Alex Chediak | July 21, 2006 10:58 PM
Rich,
I attend Grace Presbyterian in Palo Alto, a PCA church plant out of Redeemer in NY. I've loved being part of this church the past 3 years, and I'd recommend you come visit. You can find more info at www.gracepres.com.
Posted by: Hannah | July 24, 2006 09:05 PM
"Another reason for sadness is that I am no longer aware of any strong, calvinistic, complementarian church in San Francisco that I can recommend. If you know of one, please inform us in the comments section." You are correct - the closest church of this variety that I know of is Covenant OPC in Berkeley, where I now go.
Additional comment from Alex Chediak: Thanks, David. I have since heard there is also an OPC church in San Francisco.
Posted by: David | August 1, 2006 07:11 PM
There is a church south of San Francisco in Redwood City (just south of San Mateo) called "Berean Bible Church." The pastor and eldership there are from the Masters Seminary (MacArthur) and Grace Community Church. In recent years they have tried to develop a synthesis with their ministry and Tim Keller's at Redeemer. They are nondenominational, but calvinistic, though with some historic or dispensational tendencies. (so presbys beware lol)
Here's the website;
http://www.bereanchurch.com/main/home.html
Posted by: Albert | August 9, 2006 04:21 AM
Obviously coming into this a little late, but I wanted to add another possible perspective on their affiliation w/ the RCA, rather than the CRC or EPC.
In a city like San Francisco, it might be a strategically wise move to affiliate w/ the most liberal denomination that will tolerate your (mostly) conservative theology. Perhaps the RCA gives them "cred" that the more conservative groups would not.
Posted by: Rae | August 22, 2006 10:17 AM
There is an OPC in SF that is OK they do not have a minister yet @ 1st OPC in SF. I would recoment the OPC in South City. New Covenant OPC w/ pastor Carl Eriksen who I highly recomend. Also there is a great OPC church in Berkeley and San Jose. Please note that the OPC is the most CALVINIST denomination on the planet!
Posted by: Jason Rivera | March 19, 2007 07:27 PM