EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Part III)

The General Assembly convened with worship on Thursday morning. For those of us whose previous GA experience had been largely tied to the PC(USA), with its recent big business shareholders meeting style, complete with computers for each commissioner, the difference was a stark reminder of why we moved to the EPC.

After a wonderful opening worship at which the Word was rightly proclaimed, the Assembly got down to business with such moderation and care for each other that by mid-morning, we were already into the afternoon docket. Having come from the PC(USA), where parliamentary procedure is a full contact sport played merely for the sake of the game, the trust displayed by EPC commissioners in one another and in the permanent committees to do what is right and the easy flow of the meeting was a joy. One friend commented that with real prayer at the opening and closing of each report, she thinks that more time was spent in prayer than on “business.”

What could have been the most contentious issue facing the Assembly was resolved with compassion and care for all concerned.

In the EPC, Teaching Elders (pastors) are ordained and received by presbyteries. It is a matter of record that various Teaching Elders, Ruling Elders, congregations and presbyteries have different understandings of Scripture on the matter of ordination of women as Teaching Elders. And it must also be understood that neither the geographic presbyteries of the EPC nor the New Wineskins Presbytery have a monolithic understanding of the issue. It is a special concern for NWEPC, however, because we have as members several courageous, evangelical women Teaching Elders who have left the political protection of the PC(USA) to lead their flocks in respose to a new call from God.

Unlike some presbyteries in the PC(USA)—and arguably, the PC(USA) as a whole—neither the NWEPC nor the geographic presbyteries of the EPC ever want a mandated structure in which any person can be ordained as a Teaching Elder based on anything other than demonstration of an historically orthodox understanding of theology, Christology, eschatology, Scriptural interpretation, and the other matters germane to ordination. For many of us, it was the automatic pass that many unqualified candidates for ordination received from our former presbyteries because of personal world views or simply gender that was a sign of that denomination's decline. (I once heard a Princeton professor argue against a proposed Donegal Presbytery policy on ordination by saying “I oppose this overture because we frequently have unqualified candidates come before us for ordination that I like. If we are to be held to strict standards, I would have to vote against them, and I don’t want to have to do that.”)

At the same time, there is at least one presbytery in the EPC that, as a matter of written or unwritten policy, will not allow a woman candidate for care or ordination to even get to the floor of presbytery based solely on gender. As a result, that geographic presbytery asked the General Assembly to approve a proposal whereby it would re-establish itself into two “sub-presbyteries” (my phrasing, not theirs) within the one. One would allow women candidates for ordination to appear on the floor and the other would not. In all other respects, as I understand it, they would function as a single presbytery.

Faced with this request, the Permanent Judicial Commission ruled that, as a matter of EPC polity, this request could not be resolved by an act of the Assembly. Noting with specificity that it was not addressing the substantive issue of ordination, it determined that the overture had to be sent forward as a proposed amendment of the EPC’s constitution, subject to the rules on amendment.

The debate on approving or disapproving the PJC decision was quiet, courteous, respectful and Spirit-filled, without recrimination or pejorative comment. The PJC’s decision was affirmed.

But that was not the end. The PJC then asked the Assembly to approve a recommendation to the Permanent Committee on Overtures and Resolutions

That the General Assembly approve the creation of an interim committee to explore ways to provide a pathway to unity while protecting freedom of conscience among those pastors and congregations with conflicting positions on women Teaching Elders in the presbyteries of the EPC. This committee will be appointed by the Moderator, will include two representatives from each presbytery and include all positions held within the EPC on women Teaching Elders. The committee will report to the 30th General Assembly in 2010.

With only three dissenting voices that I could hear, the recommendation was approved. On Friday, the Overtures and Resolutions sent the proposal to the Assembly where it was approved without debate or dissent. Our presbytery, the New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery, will have two representatives on that interim committee.

One dear friend and respected pastor from our presbytery who was present at the General Assembly wrote to our presbytery today

While denominations all over the country have split on this issue—the EPC has simply said, “Look—there is excellent biblical scholarship on both sides here. ‘We see in a glass darkly…’ And therefore until we see Christ face to face—there is probably not going to be total agreement on this issue. Yet are we able to agree to disagree for the sake of the greater and glorious calling we ARE united around—the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ? Absolutely! Therefore, we will do what the world says is impossible. Through Christ—we will stay united and love and accept on another and roll up our sleeves and get to work—keeping the main thing the main thing.”

She has reminded us that we must always remember that “It is all about Jesus!”

Of course, to use Robert Frost’s lovely lyrical phrase, we still “have promises to keep and miles to go before [we] sleep,” but what could have been a contentious and destructive issue has been treated with Christian love for and trust in one another.

The remainder of the General Assembly was filled with more energizing worship, prayer, and fellowship, fortifying us for the coming year.

Two short years ago, after nine months of prayer, Bible study, prayer, hard and intense discussion, prayer and more prayer, the New Wineskins Association of Churches and the EPC reached agreement that led to the creation of our presbytery and began the process of Becoming One. Because presbyterians are, in my opinion, genetically incapable of doing anything quickly—we talk an issue to death and then take it to the churchyard and say a few more words over the grave—the fact that we have come so far in two years convinces me that this is a God-driven thing. He alone could have gotten us this far this fast. And He will take us all the way to His conclusion.

To God be the glory, great things He has done (and continues to do).

EPC GENERAL ASSEMBLY (Part II)

One of the major concerns expressed by some presbyters was this: “By ‘becoming one,’ are we losing our vision of a new way of being the Church in favor of a traditional Presbyterian polity? Are we losing the networks that are part of our vision?”

As a result, in addition to BECOMING ONE, we considered a portion of the report of the EPC’s Committee On Administration. In looking forward, the COA described the EPC’s vision thusly:

God has called the Evangelical Presbyterian Church to wholeheartedly re-embrace the
Great Commission and become a denomination of Missional, Evangelical, Reformed and
Presbyterian churches.

As we read the report, we found that the COAs short term goals (for the next year) include committing the EPC to play a key role in the evangelization of the U.S. and the world for Jesus Christ; leading the EPC towards becoming a truly first class equipping, training, leadership development denomination by providing leadership in discerning, nurturing and promoting missional objectives at the national and Presbytery level in order to help, encourage and enable local churches to pursue this goal. In New Wineskins terminology, they look very much like a National Network.

Another goal is to provide assistance to the presbyteries as they offer encouragement, training
and other helps that the local congregations may be effective in such areas as evangelism, discipleship, leadership development, strategic planning, financial stewardship, officer training, missional orientation and other facets of effective Christian life and ministry. In other words, they want to help the presbyteries to become support networks.

At both the GA and the presbytery level, they seek to establish only those boards, agencies, committees, commissions, staff positions, institutions, and office structure necessary to meet the goals of the church. They also look to lead the EPC from a culture of “top-down” to a culture of “bottom-up” decision making in order to provide support for activities such as church planting which are initiated by the presbyteries and local congregations rather than the General Assembly. Additionally, they seek to move the mandate of the COA from its traditional management/control role to a serving and encouraging leadership role. All of these goals mirror the “polity” vision of the New Wineskins constitution.

They desire to “push down” activities historically directed out of the national office to
Presbyteries and provide or recommend appropriate means of equipping and encouraging presbyteries in their mission and to encourage Presbyteries to network effectively among themselves. Such networking at the local, presbytery and GA level are the heart of the New Wineskins view of polity.

At the same time, those of us who have been the leaders of the NWEPC for the past 18 months have come to recognize that the intentionally broad language of the New Wineskins constitution is sometimes insufficient to meet the needs of the presbytery in carrying out the responsibilities assigned to us. There is much in the already lean polity of the EPC that is good. For instance, our Ministry Committee has often looked to the Book of Government and the by-laws of various presbyteries for best practices.

One of the COA’s goals is a different way of stating the need for viable and vibrant ministry networks: It looks to

draw the General Assembly closer to the larger churches so that it encourages and expresses appreciation for their participation in helping Presbyteries,smaller churches, countless individual missionaries and church plants, and others and to promote vitality in smaller churches by promoting peer learning and providing or recommending the most appropriate means of equipping and encouraging leaders in small ministry contexts.

It also “encourages the establishment of networks such as the Urban Ministry Network and Small Church Leaders Network (Z. 4.10).”

Ultimately, as does the New Wineskins, the EPC believes these goals represent a commitment to transform the EPC structurally into a robust form of presbyterianism that will play a key role in the evangelism of the United States and the world for Jesus Christ.

The report goes on to say

Another way to describe our vision for the EPC is to describe what we hope to find as one examines our denomination five years from now. In 2014, anyone observing the EPC would find:

1. A General Assembly that oversees the work of the church by supporting the
Presbyteries as they support the local churches.

2. Presbyteries that offer helps to local churches in such areas as evangelism,
discipleship, training and other facets of Christian ministry.

3. The re-formation of the Great Commission in the form of the missional church
widely accepted and firmly established in priorities.

4. A re-formation of the church - in our practice, not our doctrine.

5. The entire church is now committed to North America and the whole world as
a mission field.

6. A church which cares about and is engaged in its community.

7. An exhibition of unity of spirit, purpose and direction.

8. A church whose meetings focus on ministry and evangelism, not just polity.

9. A church which is outwardly focused (not parochial) and inwardly strong
(work together).

10. A church which contends for the faith and holds on to the truth.

11. A church which collaborates in ministry and mission.

12. A church which accepts a culture of “fluidity” and which avoids the old “boxes”.

13. A church which promotes church revitalization so that churches and church
plants are helped when the situation requires.

14. A church which is financially solvent buoyed in part by a strong stewardship
program at all levels.

15. A church whose larger churches take a major role in the leadership of the
denomination at all levels.

16. Elected leaders who lead, not just administer; leaders who are proactive and
quick to respond to targets of opportunity.

17. A series of highly active and very effective support networks across the
denomination.

18. Churches, pastors, and candidates under care who rate very highly the
processes that were used to admit them to a relationship within the EPC.

19. A church which has grown in numbers, not because it has sought growth as a
goal, but because it is working valiantly to evangelize and bring the Word of
God whenever there are un-churched and non-believers. (Emphasis added)

The COA’s vision, which, as can be seen, is substantially the same as the vision of the New Wineskins, is summed up by the COA as follows:

We believe that the vision we have for the future of this denomination rests heavily on our commitment to make sure these goals are realized. It will take nothing less than
our willingness at the national and Presbytery level to use our organization, our money
and our complete focus on serving the local church in order to help, encourage, and
enable them to pursue this vision.

At the end of our study in the New Wineskins presbytery meeting, I came away assured that our vision is safe within the EPC as we become one. As a ruling elder, I am particularly drawn to an EPC which looks to ruling elders who are called to ministry, rather than a denomination that marginalized and diminished the role of most ruling elders in favor of a clergy-dominated top-down denomination.

I remain confident that our amazing God has set us on the road to becoming His new thing.