Stories from the Presbyterian Pew

Lynna Sutherland
  • 5.0 (9)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Stories from the Presbyterian Pew is a resource of Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to helping laypeople understand church government and process in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Stories from the Presbyterian Pew shares real stories of those who have experienced or witnessed church courts and processes in the PCA.

  1. 12/02/2025

    Grooming: Manipulation, Isolation, and Shame

    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/

    37 min

  2. 10/14/2025

    Becky's Story Part 3: Rebuilding Trust

    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/

    55 min

  3. 10/07/2025

    Becky's Story Part 2: One Year with the Presbytery

    Today's episode picks up with the second part of Becky's story as her family returns from the mission field and the Presbytery begins the process of church discipline with her husband. You'll hear a lot of terms related to PCA church government in this episode. We'll define them for you in the introduction, but you can learn more in our free online course, Presbyterian Church Discipline 101. 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/

    50 min

  4. 09/30/2025

    Becky's Story Part 1: The Night it All Blew Up

    We begin Season 2 of the podcast with Becky's story - a story that includes pain and betrayal, but also hope and the triumph of the Gospel in the face of sin and brokenness. Becky and her husband were missionaries with the PCA's international missions organization, Mission to the World (MTW). You can find the MTW website here. 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/

    49 min

  5. 09/23/2025

    Season 2 Intro: Longing for Safety, Living in Tension

    For an understanding of the purpose behind the Stories from the Presbyterian Pew Podcast, we recommend the first episode from Season 1. You can find that here or on your favorite podcast app. A year ago, I wrote "Why I Refuse to Pick Good Guys and Bad Guys in the PCA". Today's episode covers similar ideas. The live Zoom conversations from our DASA Discussion Facebook group can now be found in our free online course, Presbyterian Church Abuse Response 101. To volunteer or find out more about the opportunities, visit our Volunteer page. If you would like to be a Presbytery Companion, you can find the details here. Here is a link to the full episode of Dr. Russell Moore's interview with Dr. Diane Langberg. 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/

    12 min

  6. 07/08/2025

    Personal Reflections on the 2025 PCA General Assembly

    Sign up to be a Presbytery Companion: https://presbyterianpew.org/companion/ Donate to send Lynna to General Assembly next year and get a "I Support BCO Education for Everyone" sticker: https://presbyterianpew.org/send-me-to-ga/ A collection of X updates about the Overtures Committee business: https://presbyterianpew.org/2025-overtures-committee-actions/ Timestamped links to all major debates and decisions during the main meetings of General Assembly: https://presbyterianpew.org/highlights-2025-general-assembly/ Speech in support of Item 3 (expanded representation for accused): https://www.youtube.com/live/W8LQRTMDFzk?t=12317s Minority Report on Overture 12 (limiting distribution of communion to officers only): https://www.youtube.com/live/oOBNhKlbWXs?si=KntYYNtOcs_c8h3U&t=5483 The Importance of Administrative Suspension During a Trial: The Problems with Overture 31 - https://presbyterianpew.org/administrative-suspension-overture-31/ Statement by Moderator Steve Dowling and MNA Coordinator Dr. Irwyn Ince regarding affinity troups (link in post to MNA statement): https://byfaithonline.com/gospel-priorities-statement/ Subscribe to our newsletter: https://presbyterianpew.org/subscribe/ 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/

    42 min

  7. 07/01/2025

    Special Guest Adair Evans: MTW Missionary to Victims of Sex Trafficking in Germany

    Learn more about Adair's work, sign up for her newsletter, and support her financially on her MTW profile here. You can also email her at adair.evans@mtw.org 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/

    57 min

  8. 06/24/2025

    Jeanie's Story Part 3: How An Apology Caused Additional Harm

    Here is the text of Book of Church Order chapter 40, paragraph 5 (BCO 40-5) When any court having appellate jurisdiction shall receive a credible report with respect to the court next below of any important delinquency or grossly unconstitutional proceedings of such court, the first step shall be to cite the court alleged to have offended to appear before the court having appellate jurisdiction, or its commission, by representative or in writing, at a specified time and place, and to show what the lower court has done or failed to do in the case in question. The court thus issuing the citation may reverse or redress the proceedings of the court below in other than judicial cases; or it may censure the delinquent court; or it may remit the whole matter to the delinquent court with an injunction to take it up and dispose of it in a constitutional manner; or it may stay all further proceedings in the case; as circumstances may require. If you believe you may need to submit a 40-5 to a Presbytery or to the General Assembly, please contact us for information and support. Would you consider being a Presbytery Companion? You can find more information here. 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/

    54 min
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Stories from the Presbyterian Pew is a resource of Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to helping laypeople understand church government and process in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Stories from the Presbyterian Pew shares real stories of those who have experienced or witnessed church courts and processes in the PCA.

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