For a denomination to expand by 100 congregations in just three years bucks the trend of most North American mainline denominations that are universally in decline. Some of that growth is the result of church planting, but the vast majority is the result of congregations transferring into the EPC from the larger Presbyterian Church (USA).... Continue Reading

With the hours ticking away before Saturday night’s Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly moderator election, the six candidates have been busy rallying support. In addition to manning their campaign booths at the Minneapolis Convention Center the days before the election, the candidates also visited various group events the night before the election. At one campaign... Continue Reading

This report is limited to highlights of the meeting to provide our readers with the main issues considered. The first item of business at 8:00AM Friday was to return to the report of the COC on Mission to North America and the request of the Chaplains Commission for a statement on the military’s dealing with... Continue Reading

This report is limited to highlights that could be of interest to our readers. First up after lunch was the Report of the Theological Examination Committee. This committee examines and approves men called for first or second ‘tier’ positions in the PCA, such as Presidents of the college and seminary, Coordinators of the varies ministry... Continue Reading

According to the Fraternal Relations committee, no invitation was extended for representation by the EPC at the upcoming meeting of the PCUSA where the investigating committee’s report will be heard and acted upon. When the Fraternal Relations committee met at the 30th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, June 24 in Englewood, Colo., there... Continue Reading

This report is limited to highlights that could be of interest to our readers. First up on Thursday were two additional program reports from the Christian Education and Publications Committee and Ridge Haven. The first of the Board/Agency Committee of Commissioners to report for this Assembly was Ridge Haven. (Editor’s note: Committees of Commissioners (hereafter... Continue Reading

“I think this is an attempt by a dying denomination to corral whatever churches it has left, rather than to be reformed and change its policies.” A yearlong Presbyterian Church (USA) investigation found no evidence to support accusations that the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) actively solicited PC(USA) congregations. However, the April report expressed concerns... Continue Reading

McGowan said churches in his group “consider any music newer than 100 years old as liberal and almost heretical.” The Rev. Charles McGowan is hoping for an atypically calm annual meeting for his denomination this week. McGowan serves on the host committee for the General Assembly of the PCA, which began Tuesday night at the... Continue Reading

The 30th General Assembly of the EPC has affirmed the denomination’s historic position on the “non-essential” nature of women as teaching elders and crafted a polity solution that provides for freedom of conscience. The General Assembly met June 23-26 at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, Colo. Jim Dixon, senior pastor of Cherry Hills Community... Continue Reading

Majority Report: “members of the PC(USA) cannot agree on the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community and must therefore show mutual forbearance.” Presbyterians gathering next week will choose between two divergent paths. The first seeks to change the church’s definition of marriage to a relationship between any “two people,” while the second... Continue Reading