The EP News of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) reports that three Presbyteries have taken various actions on the issue of the ordination of women as teaching elders at their recent winter meetings.

The Presbytery of the Mid-America, by an approximate vote of two to one, approved a proposal to draft an overture for General Assembly consideration calling for the creation of two affinity presbyteries within the geographic bounds of Mid-America. One affinity presbytery “would ordain only men to the office of teaching elder and one would be free to ordain men and women to the office of teaching elder.”

The Presbytery of the East approved a recommendation that stated in part that “each presbyter has liberty to vote their conviction regarding the ordination of individuals as Teaching Elders in the Presbytery of the East,” that the presbytery will not prohibit candidates for ordination as Teaching Elders due to their gender” and that “all members will be treated during the entire (examination) process with charity, grace and the respect due to one who seeks to submit themselves to Scripture and the calling of the Holy Spirit.”

The Presbytery of Florida voted to appoint a special committee to study the ordination and reception of women as teaching elders. Previously, the Presbytery had voted to prohibit women from serving as teaching elders.

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