A group of ethnic minority pastors and leaders within the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) has drawn significant attention after releasing a public petition sharply criticizing the denomination’s internal culture and direction. Titled “A Call to Prayer & Lament,” the document frames its concerns as a spiritual appeal rather than a policy proposal, but its language has sparked debate in conservative Christian circles.
The petition criticizes the denomination’s public posture towards LGBTQ+ people, arguing that legislative actions and public rhetoric have damaged relationships with surrounding communities. “The very neighbors we are seeking to love… are publicly belittled and demonized, if not by our words then by our legislative actions,” the document states. While it does not call for doctrinal change, the petition argues that the current tone has weakened trust and complicated pastoral engagement.
While the petition opens by affirming the writers’ gratitude for the PCA’s theological foundations and global mission, the words also express grief over what they describe as growing division and relational harm.
“We write with hearts full of gratitude and grief,” the authors state, lamenting “a deepening culture of suspicion, gracelessness, self-righteousness, and relational dysfunction.” The document describes experiences of exclusion, racial microaggressions, and public disparagement, including what it calls “unchecked slander and baseless innuendo on social media.”
Among various concerns, the petition argues that minority and female leaders continue to be sidelined within denominational structures. “Many of us and those we serve have been persistently excluded, questioned, or sidelined because of our race, gender, or cultural background,” the petition reads. The authors also warn that internal disputes are draining energy from mission work, particularly in urban and multicultural settings.
Responses from within the PCA have varied. Rev. Zachary Groff of South Carolina wrote that the petition “does NOT represent any PCA entity.” Rev. Thomas Rickard, a Presbyterian clerk in Virginia, acknowledged the seriousness of the claims but argued that they rely on individual experiences rather than formal denominational actions.
The debate has unfolded largely online, exposing long-standing tensions within the PCA over culture, authority, and public witness. Whether the petition leads to institutional change or deeper division remains uncertain, it stands as a rare public moment of lament against discrimination and divisiveness from a denomination long self-defined by its emphasis on unity.