Polity Matters

By Edburg, Nelson, RatliffReligion & Spirituality Christianity Government History

Polity Matters episodes

November 03148. From Birthing Babies to Geriatric Care
Ben, Jared, and Scott are joined by Steve Dowling, interim coordinator of Mission to North America (MNA), as the RAO series continues through the committees and agencies of the General Assembly. Steve marks one year in the role (he started October 1, 2025) and explains why the interim period was extended by a year, through next June, and what has changed inside MNA along the way.
Steve gives the thirty-thousand-foot view of MNA as a program committee rather than an agency, and how his review of decades of Assembly minutes sorted its work into three categories: planting, mobilization, and restoration. The conversation moves from birthing babies to geriatric care: how MNA supports presbyteries and churches in planting, what planter assessment and coaching look like now, how a mission church moves toward particularization (including an English-speaking church in Germany particularizing with the Ministry to the Military and Internationals), and why the recent rise in church plants belongs to presbyteries and mother-daughter plants.
Steve also walks through why MNA's many specialized ministries exist and how each ties back to the Assembly's mandates, with the PRCC and its Reformed chaplains as one example. Looking ahead, he names Canada as a major area of need and prayer, introduces MNA's new one-stop website, and invites listeners to get involved, including through Ministry to State and Metanoia Prison Ministries.
Links and resources
Mission to North America (new website)
Plant
Mobilize
Restore
Get involved
PRCC Chaplain Ministries
Metanoia Prison Ministries
Ministry to State
Ministry to the Military and Internationals
40. GA Overtures Committee (with Steve Dowling)
72. Chapter 27 is Chiastic (BCO 27) (with Steve Dowling)
80. Until I Read Them Out Loud (BCO 33) (with Steve Dowling)
89. Crash Course on the PCA General Assembly (with Steve Dowling)
Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
35 min
October 27147. ProtoPresbytery
Ben and Jared are joined by Lloyd Kim, coordinator of Mission to the World (MTW), as the RAO series continues through the committees and agencies of the General Assembly. Lloyd shares his path from Southern California and Westminster Seminary to the Philippines and Cambodia, and how he came to serve in his thirteenth year as coordinator of MTW, the sending arm of the PCA.
The conversation looks at what the BCO says about foreign missions, including the powers of an evangelist in places with no presbytery and the provisional presbyteries of BCO 15-6. Lloyd explains why MTW often works with like-minded Reformed bodies and a "proto-presbytery" rather than using that provision, and how the 1984 NAPARC "Golden Rule" comity agreement still shapes cooperation among sister denominations. He also describes how churches and sessions help discern a missionary call, how MTW assesses, trains, and cares for missionaries, and how its Cultivate program helps churches move from being "ATMs" to catalysts for the Great Commission.
Lloyd unpacks the 1% challenge as a "tithe" mentality, explains MTW's low administrative fee of about 6.5%, and shares his prayers for the future: new missionaries, a pipeline of leaders, and healthy teams. The episode closes with missionary biography recommendations from Lloyd and Jared.
Links and resources
Mission to the World
Cultivate: Creating a Culture of Missions in Your Church
The 1% Challenge (Lloyd Kim)
NAPARC Comity Agreement
Swift and Beautiful: The Amazing Stories of Faithful Missionaries (David B. Calhoun)
Westminster Reader
Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
44 min
October 20146. Broker of Relationships and Resources
Ben, Jared, and Scott are joined by Stephen Estock, coordinator of the PCA's Committee on Discipleship Ministries (CDM), as the RAO series continues through the permanent committees and agencies. Stephen shares his path from Birmingham to the Air Force, Covenant Seminary, and the pastorate, and how he came to lead CDM, formerly Christian Education and Publications.
He describes CDM's mission to strengthen the local church as it makes disciples, organized around five streams: children, youth, women, men, and older adults. CDM calls itself "a broker of relationships and resources," connecting people to people and people to resources through ministry teams drawn from local churches. The conversation covers CDM's conferences, including the first men's ministry conference and the Pressing On conference for the wives of elders. It also covers how presbytery committees can encourage non-ordained ministry workers, and the fifty-year joint ministry with the OPC in Great Commission Publications.
Stephen also recommends resources worth knowing about, including Heirs of the Covenant, the Road Talk, Meal Talk, and Soul Talk booklets, Children's Ministry 101, the Westminster Confession in everyday language, and the BCO Basics video series. He closes with encouragements and challenges in discipleship ministry and three prayer requests: keep us faithful, keep us grounded, provide for us.
Links and resources
Committee on Discipleship Ministries
CDM conferences: Men's Ministry Conference, Pressing On (women), Children's LEAD 2026, Student ministry conference
Great Commission Publications
Heirs of the Covenant (Susan Hunt)
Westminster Reader
Road Talk and Meal Talk (John Kwasny)
Children's Ministry 101 (CDM children's resources)
The Westminster Confession of Faith in Everyday Language (Jimmy Agan)
BCO Basics (free video series)
Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
44 min
October 13145. The Utility Company of the PCA
Ben and Jared are joined again by PCA Stated Clerk Fred Greco to walk through Chapter 3 of the Rules of Assembly Operation, which covers the Stated Clerk. Fred explains what the job is and isn't: clerical rather than spiritual leadership ("He's not the bishop of the PCA"), the qualifications in RAO 3-5, and why the clerk is a trusted source of constitutional advice precisely because he doesn't take sides.
The conversation moves through the clerk's role as an ambassador to other denominations, the structure and culture of the Administrative Committee staff, and the unglamorous logistics behind General Assembly, down to charging stations. Fred describes the AC as "the utility company of the PCA": the ministry nobody notices when it works. He also makes the case for the PCA Historical Center and Wayne Sparkman's work there, and invites listeners to consider a donation to the Administrative Committee.
Links:
PCA Historical Center
PCA Administrative Committee
Polity Matters #91, 52nd PCAGA Recap (with Wayne Sparkman)
Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
37 min
October 06 144. You're the Umpire
Jared Nelson and Scott Edburg are joined by Mel Duncan, moderator of the 53rd General Assembly, to walk through the first two chapters of the Rules of Assembly Operations. Chapter 1 covers calling the General Assembly to order, the opening sermon and exhortation, the stated clerk's enrollment report, and the election of the moderator, including nominating speeches, ballots, and clickers. Chapter 2 turns to the moderator's duties: presiding, inviting others to preside, calling the next assembly to order, and the floor privileges of former moderators.

Mel describes the moderator as a servant of the assembly rather than its master. "You're the umpire," he says, and the job is to call balls and strikes. Along the way he talks about why a moderator has to know the docket, how much the stated clerk carries, the unwritten duties that come with the office (study committees and a committee for fasting and prayer among them), and the practical challenges of sound, lighting, microphones, and the kill switch. He also gets into a point of order and the clickers, and closes with gratitude for the PCA.

Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
53 min
September 29 143. A Chapter Called Fred Greco
Ben, Jared, and Scott welcome PCA Stated Clerk Fred Greco back to the show as they kick off a new season working through the Rules of Assembly Operation (RAO) -- the "yellow pages" section of the BCO appendices. Fred explains what the RAO actually is: the rulebook for how General Assembly conducts its business, and a window into how the PCA's permanent committees, agencies, and Standing Judicial Commission operate between assemblies.
The conversation covers the RAO's relationship to the Constitution (it's not part of it, and RAO amendments take effect immediately rather than going through the constitutional amendment process), how it sits below the BCO and Westminster Standards but above Robert's Rules of Order, the math behind amending or suspending the rules (two-thirds vote that's also a majority of enrolled commissioners), why the RAO discourages bringing new business straight to the GA floor, and which chapters (4, 14-17) are worth knowing even if you never attend Assembly.
A good primer before diving into the RAO chapter by chapter in episodes to come.
Questions or comments? Reach out at [email protected].
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
32 min
September 22142. The USPS Error
With the Book of Church Order wrapped up, Ben, Jared, and Scott prepare listeners for the coming round of Presbytery meetings. The 53rd General Assembly sent seven BCO amendments to the presbyteries for advice and consent (BCO 26). Each must be voted on as a whole, needs two-thirds of presbyteries, and then a majority at a subsequent GA. The guys walk through what each one says and why it was proposed, plus one informational item that isn't up for a vote.
Links and resources
Overtures Library: https://overtures26.replit.app/
BCO Amendment Tracking Dashboard: https://www.pcaac.org/dashboard/
Book of Church Order: https://www.pcaac.org/bco/
BCO amendments sent to the presbyteries (53rd GA): https://www.pcaac.org/resources/presbyteries/presbytery-clerks-download-page/
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
41 min
August 18 141. Nostalgic in the Least (BCO 63)
It is the end. Good bye.
Bible Reading Plan Generator
The Fullness of Grace by Stephen Yuille
A Neglected Grace by Jason Helopoulos
The Family Worship Bible Guide
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
22 min
August 04 140. Very Opposites (BCO 62)
Discussion of the seven sections of BCO 62 on Days of Fasting and Thanksgiving.
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
28 min
July 21139. Scott, Take Care of It (BCO 61)
Ben, Jared, and Scott walk through Chapter 61 of the PCA Book of Church Order ("The Burial of the Dead"), discussing the theology and practicalities of conducting funerals and graveside services. They cover how to balance worshipping God with comforting the living, navigate sensitive pastoral situations like cremation and services for unbelievers, and train ministry interns in funeral care.

Referenced Links & External Resources
Leading in Worship by Terry L. Johnson: Liturgical resource cited for graveside committal services.
Article by Steven Spinnenweber: Article (and accompanying sermon) on preaching the gospel clearly while conducting his sister's funeral.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662 & 1979 editions): Historical liturgical references for burial orders.
Matthew Henry's Deathbed Reflection.
Upon his death bed, Matthew Henry wrote this note to his loved ones, to be read when he had passed.
“Would you like to know where I am? I am at home in my Father's house, in the mansions prepared for me here. I am where I want to be – no longer on the stormy sea, but in God's safe, quiet harbor. My sowing time is done and I am reaping: my joy is as the joy of harvest.
Would you like to know how it is with me? I am made perfect in holiness. Grace is swallowed up in glory.
Would you like to know what I am doing? I see God, not as through a glass darkly, but face to face. I am engaged in the sweet enjoyment of my precious Redeemer. I am singing hallelujahs to Him who sits upon the throne, and am constantly praising Him.
Would you know what blessed company I keep? It is better than the best on earth. Here are the holy angels and the spirits of just men made perfect...I am with many of my old acquaintances with whom I worked and prayed, and who have come here before me.
Lastly, would you know how long this will continue? It is dawn that never fades! After millions and millions of ages, it will be as fresh as it is now. Therefore, weep not for me!”
Send us Fan Mail
Support the show
Official Website: politymatters.org
Support the Show: Buy Me a Coffee
Twitter/X: @PolityMatters
Facebook: Polity Matters Page
Scott's Twitter
Jared's Twitter
Ben's Twitter
31 min