June 26 Today in OPC History

On June 26, 1986, the Fourteenth General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) reissued an invitation to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) to join and be received. PCA Stated Clerk Morton Smith was directed to include in his communication to the presbyteries of the PCA the 78 to 68 vote (a majority but not the necessary super majority) of the Fifty-Third General Assembly of the OPC to accept the previous invitation two weeks earlier. Nearly six months later on January 19,1987, Mr. Smith communicated to the OPC that eleven presbyteries of the PCA voted against extending a formal invitation which was sufficient to block the motion. Mr. Smith then added, "As you know from our personal conversations, I do not believe this is against the reception of the OPC, but rather against the "J&R" process, which has proved to be divisive to your Church."

Picture: Morton Smith