Stories from the Presbyterian Pew

Here are some resources mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Heather Evans
• Voices of Survivors Project
• What About the Abused Spouse's Sin? by Dr. Nate Brooks
• Truth, Trauma, and Redeeming Power Conference
• To God's Daughters - Pre-release information on Dr. Evans' Book

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

In Part 1, Marguerite shared how confusing her marriage was. Just as she was beginning to get some clarity, she got a letter from her pastor. Did the letter further the clarity or further the confusion?

One resource that Marguerite mentioned that was helpful in understanding her marriage is a secular book on abuse called Why Does He Do That? by Lundy Bancroft.

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

In Part 1 of Marguerite's story, we focus on one theme - confusion. She didn't view her marriage as abusive, dangerous, or even necessarily bad. It was just ... confusing. In this episode she begins to explain why.

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

• "Conversations from the Presbyterian Pew: PCA Women Equipped to Care" - Facebook group for PCA women.
• Presbyterianism by Dr. Sean Michael Lucas
• How can Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew Help Your Church?
• Flyer for Churches about our free courses
• Trauma, Truth, and Redeeming Power Conference
• When Divorce is Mercy by Darby Strickland and Michael Gembola
• Help[H]er
• Safeguard [H]er Details
• Called to Peace Ministries
• Called to Peace Church Partnership
• Donate to Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew
• Donate towards General Assembly 2027 Travel
• Visit the Presbyterian Pew Shop

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are links to some of the items referenced in this episode:

• Previous episodes on General Assembly and Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
• Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly (post summarizing all of this year's Overtures)
• Highlights of the 2026 General Assembly (timestamped links to each major debate or report)
• Actions of the Overtures Committee (collection of X live-posted threads about Overtures Committee debates)
• The "American Cheeseburger" speech by TE Jackson Lee
• Podcast Episode with Adair Evans, MTW Missionary to victims of sex trafficking in Germany
• Acapella Singing of Psalm 133 (video from the floor)
• NEW: Presbyterian Pew Shop
• Donate to General Assembly 2027 Travel

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Want to discuss the Overtures? Join our free Facebook Group on General Assembly 2026

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Presbyterian Church General Assembly 101 (free course from Presbyterian Pew)
• Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly
• Polity Matters Podcast Episode on the 2026 Overtures
• Alliance for Mission and Renewal Round Table Discussion on 2026 Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
• Overtures Library (commentary from four PCA Elders)
• Eternal Subordination of the Son and CBMW by Rachel Green Miller
• Stated Clerk's Report on the 2008 General Assembly by L. Roy Taylor
• A History of the Title Deaconess in Southern Presbyterianism

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Presbyterian Church General Assembly 101 (free course from Presbyterian Pew)
• Report of the Ad Interim Committee on the Directory for Worship
• Partial Report of the Ad Interim Committee on Christian Nationalism
• Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly
• Polity Matters Podcast Episode on the 2026 Overtures
• Alliance for Mission and Renewal Round Table Discussion on 2026 Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (coming soon)
• Overtures Library (commentary from four PCA Elders)
• Current Members of General Assembly Committees
• Article on Overture 56: Protecting Options for Representation

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

Welcome to the first episode about PCA General Assembly in 2026. I'll be traveling to Louisville, KY to observe and share about the business that happens there. But beforehand, I want to give you an overview of what happens at General Assembly and the Overtures up for consideration this time around.

Note: When I recorded this episode, I noted that it was possible the Assembly would not hear from the Study Committee on the Directory for Public Worship. That is now certain. You can read more about that decision here. I still recommend digging into the proposed report and listening to the interviews with its authors.

Here are some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

• Presbyterian Church General Assembly 101 (free course from Presbyterian Pew)
• 2026 General Assembly Docket (will almost certain change before it is adopted)
• Gifts and Graces Podcast (recording of past General Assembly seminars)
• Report of the Study Committee to revise the Directory for Worship
• Interview with members of the Directory for Worship Study Committee with Polity Matters and with Alliance for Mission and Renewal
• byFaith Article on the work of the Review of Presbytery Records Committee
• Overtures to the 2026 General Assembly
• Polity Matters Podcast Episode on the 2026 Overtures
• Alliance for Mission and Renewal Round Table Discussion on 2026 Overtures: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 (coming soon)
• Overtures Library (commentary from four PCA Elders)

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

The word "grooming" has become a household term and is tossed around in common conversation about everything from politics to reading lists. But what does grooming really mean? What does it actually look like? And would you be able to recognize it?

This episode of the Stories from the Presbyterian Pew podcast is based roughly on this article of the same title.

Recommended resources:

• Presbyterian Church Abuse Response 101 - free online course on our site, walking through the PCA's DASA Report and interviews with DASA authors.
• You Are Safe Now by Tricia Lott Williford and Jana Richardson MA LPC EMDR (For a summary overview of these concepts, see this interview with the authors.)
• Something's Not Right by Wade Mullen
• Bully Pulpit by Michael J. Kruger

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/

In the first two parts of Becky's story, we heard about the crisis in her marriage and the involvement of the Presbytery. In this episode, Becky shares some practical and personal details about what it looked like to restore trust in the marriage as well as with other organizations.

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew depends on financial support from listeners. To contribute to the costs of producing and hosting the podcast, please visit https://presbyterianpew.org/donate/