…[we} affirm that the Scriptures…teach that Adam and Eve are historical individuals, that Adam and Eve were specially created by God through His direct intervention and that God formed Adam, the first man, from the dust of the ground…[we}deny that Genesis 2:7 means that God acted upon a group of humans or hominids to set apart the first couple. Anyone seeking to be ordained within Fellowship Presbytery or to transfer his ordination into Fellowship Presbytery must agree with the above statements.

In the light of recent discussions related to theistic evolution, genetics, and the historicity of Adam and Eve, Fellowship Presbytery has been concerned about views which compromise the accuracy of the Scriptures. This is particularly true concerning the accounts related to the first 11 chapters of Genesis. A motion was passed at our 51st meeting (last September) that our Membership Committee study the account of the historicity of Adam and Eve, and bring back a recommendation to our 52nd meeting, which was held on January 24th.

During the meeting, delegates heard the Committee’s report, as well hearing a brief review of Covenant Seminary’s Jack Collins’ book, Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? Who They Were and Why You Should Care. (See Peter Enns review of that book here.)

After discussion the Presbytery adopted the following statement:

The presbytery M/S/P to have the Membership Committee to draft a two part response:
1. Part one was an internal statement for Fellowship Presbytery regarding our stance on Genesis 2 (see below)
2. Part two will be an external response, specifically in regards to Covenant Seminary. It is intended to be presented this April to Presbytery.

On the recommendation of the Membership Committee, Fellowship Presbytery adopted at its Winter Meeting the following position statement: “The members of Fellowship Presbytery affirm that the Scriptures, specifically Genesis 1 and 2, teach that Adam and Eve are historical individuals, that Adam and Eve were specially created by God through His direct intervention and that God formed Adam, the first man, from the dust of the ground. The members of Fellowship Presbytery deny that Genesis 2:7 means that God acted upon a group of humans or hominids to set apart the first couple. Anyone seeking to be ordained within Fellowship Presbytery or to transfer his ordination into Fellowship Presbytery must agree with the above statements.