Vintage73 is a collaborative blog focusing on the culture and values of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The site was born out of a desire for honest and charitable discussion within and about the PCA.
Why I'm Angry About This Meeting of Understanding

Why I’m Angry About This Meeting of Understanding

A week and a half ago, around 50 pastors and elders in the PCA met in Atlanta. Atlanta is our denominational headquarters, and Presbyterians love meetings. At first this doesn’t seem like it should be news worthy. Then byFaith put...
The Privilege of Reading in the 21st Century

The Privilege of Reading in the 21st Century

Just imagine how different the world would be if you could never send a letter or write a note or email someone. Reading is a gift that most of us don’t appreciate. Most people aren’t even aware of how much...
Finding God at the Farmers’ Market

Finding God at the Farmers’ Market

Like many cities in Canada, our city has a thriving farmers’ market.  In fact, we have more than one.  For many years, I was a vendor at our Saturday morning market.  I got up early and set up my booth....
Three Pastoral Mistakes I’ve Made and Seen

Three Pastoral Mistakes I’ve Made and Seen

I’m not the oldest kid on the block but I’m sadly realizing I’m not the youngest either at age 48.  My ministry experience to date has been somewhat varied. Prior to seminary I was a campus intern with RUF followed...
Bogeymen in the PCA!

Bogeymen in the PCA!

bogeyman (ˈbəʊɡɪˌmæn) — n  , pl -men (also spelled “boogeyman”) an imaginary evil character of supernatural powers, especially a mythical hobgoblin supposed to carry off naughty children. Of the talk of suspicion and eyebrow-raising between Christians, there will likely be...

Can Pastors Have Real Friends?

Isolation is the pastor’s enemy.  And it’s the enemy to the pastor’s family. Dark times, sometimes long and painful, are as regular to guy in the pew as they are to the guy in pulpit.  The big difference is that the guy in the pew has real friends.  The pastor typically doesn’t. Should I Make Close Friends in My Congregation? That’s a big question.  If you tell Joe-shmo and Nancy-do-good that you and your wife are having a rough time in your marriage what is going to happen?  Will they ask gospel questions and pray for you?  Or will they announce on Facebook that you’re marriage is falling apart and form a search committee?  You’d laugh at that suggestion but is it really that far from the truth? You know what you want from your congregation.  You want them to...
Latest entries

Video – Re-Imagining Theological Education

I recently came across a very interesting short video from the folks at 3dm. It profiles some of the issues that have bothered me about theological education. While their solution isn’t being talked about much here, do you think they have the right diagnosis? It seems like this video shares the thinking that the PCA...
Are We Neglecting the Lord's Supper: 3 Starter Questions

Are We Neglecting the Lord’s Supper: 3 Starter Questions

Ever since seminary I’ve heard whispers and murmurs on one topic, but never open discussion. On most theological subjects in the Reformed Community there is  plainly agreement or disagreement, yet when it comes to the Lord’s Supper this doesn’t seem to be true. Sure we learned about the three views in the Reformation: Consubstantiation, the...

Numbers and Faithfulness

Ansgar was a ninth century missionary to the Scandanavian area. We know about him from statues, a biography and other sources. He was the first to establish Christian churches in Denmark. Yet, after his death in 865, those churches disappeared. While Ansgar has his own Wikipedia article and is known in Church History, he probably...
Struggling With Faith and Being a Church Planter

Struggling With Faith and Being a Church Planter

Recently, I’ve been realizing that planting a church has been causing me to have some serious struggles with my faith in God. Planting a church pushes you into a situation of total dependence on God.  For many pastors there is a struggle against  always seeking to control and stabilize their churches. For me as a...

Hobnobbing, Snubbing, or Blissfully Ignorant

I was pleased to see our own prodigious church planter Sam Desocio write a little something about being ecumenical over at his blog. He summarizes the problem, Add to this the postmodern view of personal truth and we seem to have come upon quite a challenge for the people of God.  On a continental level...
In Defense of "Brokenness"

In Defense of “Brokenness”

Recently The Gospel Coalition ran an article by Randy Newman, expressing concern over the use of the term “brokenness.” While I agreed in part with Mr. Newman, he presented too broad a condemnation of the idea. I would argue that the language of brokenness is an important part of our vocabulary, not for avoiding deeper...
Resolution 2 - Regarding Fellowship Among Elders

Resolution 2 – Regarding Fellowship Among Elders

The following is an overture from Vintage73.com to the 39th General Assembly*: OVERTURE V73-2 from Vintage73.com “Regarding Fellowship Among Elders” Whereas, we have not seen many of our favorite pastor friends in a very long time. Whereas, Jesus encourages us in John 13:34-35 that the world will know we are Christians by our public love...
Of TRs and Liberals

Of TRs and Liberals

I’m not sure when the term “TR” was first coined (35 years ago? More?), but it seems I’ve been hearing it all my life. Sometimes it’s directed at me. Sometimes I must admit it’s used by me in reference to others. But what does it mean and to whom is it referring?The abbreviation “TR” means...
An Overture from a Blog!?

An Overture from a Blog!?

The following is an overture from Vintage73.com to the 39th General Assembly...
Anthony Bradley's "Narcissism Epidemic"?

Anthony Bradley’s “Narcissism Epidemic”?

In doing some recent electrical work I was reminded that there is a big difference between knowing that you have a short in your lines, and figuring out what circuit is the issue. Until you find that damaged circuit the house is still in danger. I recently read Dr. Anthony Bradley’s article on what he...
Tim Keller, and Others, Shed Light on Being 'Missional'

Tim Keller, and Others, Shed Light on Being ‘Missional’

Tim Keller, of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC, as well as Ed Stetzer, Alan Hirsch, and several other Evangelical leaders have come together to draft what they are calling a “Missional Manifesto”. The entire document can be found at missionalmanifesto.net, and Dr. Ed Stezter of the Southern Baptist Convention has written an additional introduction over...
7 Things We Learned from the AC Funding Fracas

7 Things We Learned from the AC Funding Fracas

The Administrative Committee funding proposal that last year’s General Assembly sent to the presbyteries for approval has officially failed.  What has it taught us?  A ton?  Not much?  Here are a few suggestions: We want to fund the AC. Throughout all the AC funding fracas no one lobbied to detonate the AC.  Maybe there is...