This invocation of J. C. Ryle is interesting. However, all you have to do is compare Ryle to John Calvin or Turretin and Pictet, or Zacharias Ursinus, and a much different story is immediately evident.
In my opinion, we should remain Confessional rather than innovating.
And, in fact, that is exactly what is happening. Judging from the fact that ministers who would side with Leithart are scattered throughout the PCA presbyteries, including the Southeast, it is pretty much a fait accompli. I’m not suggesting that the PCA is going to go in Leithart’s direction or that it needs to. I’m just saying that it is a fact that the PCA has ruled through her Presbyteries that this is within the doctrinal bounds of the Westminster standards.
Personally, I suspect an education at the Master’s College and Seminary and a continuing sympathy with “New Covenant theology” isn’t the best background for gaining an objective view of the matter.
Hmm… Here is part two which addresses my response above in the first footnote. I’m not sure why Mr. Jenckins says what he does about my feelings. He would need to act a lot more uncivilized to generate that sort of response. Readers can judge for themselves what is relevant, or if a Mr. Jenkins background is a good foundation for an impartial judgment in the matters he addresses.
Finally, since we’re a Confessional denomination in the PCA, I stand by my opinion that we should submit to it in this matter and stop trying to win against one another.