On November 9, 2010, Evangel Presbytery met at Rainbow Presbyterian Church, Rainbow City, AL, for its 128th Stated Meeting.

Host pastor, TE Robbie Hendrick, welcomed the presbytery to Rainbow City and TE Jason Sterling proclaimed the Gospel from Hebrews 2:1-4 by challenging the presbytery to reverse the trend of spiritual drift in our lives by holding fast to the person and work of Jesus Christ.

An Order of the Day had been scheduled to discuss the six proposed changes to the Book of Church Order with the intention of delaying a vote until February. Upon motion, it was decided the vote should be taken today in light of the historic leadership of Evangel Presbytery in the denomination.

TE Tom Cheely was asked to educate the presbytery on the proposed changes to BCO 14 and the ramifications of their adoption or rejection.

Mr. Cheely addressed the presbytery providing a historical overview of the budget of the PC(US) as well as how the PCA began with a unified budget. This budget was compiled on the assumption churches would voluntarily give to the ministries of the denomination. When that did not occur, a system was adopted wherein every church was “asked” to give according to their communing membership. To date, this system has not functioned well, leaving the ministries of the denomination to raise support in order to fulfill their budgets. Mr. Cheely then presented his research on the proposed amendments to BCO 14. A question and answer session followed. Below are listed several of the questions and Mr. Cheely’s responses.

1. Question: If a TE pays and his church pays but his presbytery does not, can he vote at GA? Answer: In Mr. Cheely’s opinion, that situation has not been addressed by the BCO Amendments or the exchange found on The Aquila Report website between Dr. Taylor and Dr. Aquila.

2. Question: What happens to the current registration fee if these amendments are approved? Answer: It is removed.

3. Question: To what amount does the .334% apply? Answer: Regular tithes and offerings, not including money given to a building fund or capital campaign.

4. Question: Has the PCA Administrative Committee always had a shortfall? Answer: Yes, the AC has never received full funding since the inception of the PCA.

5. Question: How do these amendments affect a man’s standing in presbytery? Answer: There is nothing in the documentation/discussion regarding this issue.

6. Question: Does the .334% apply to the church’s projection of the upcoming year or the previous year? Answer: It appears to apply to the information provided to the GA regarding statistical information.

7. Question: There is a provision for a cap on the church percentage, but no cap on the individual or presbytery amounts. Is this correct? Answer: There is no cap on any of the amounts since the amounts are not “hard and fast.”

Once the question and answer session was completed, the presbytery voted in the following manner regarding the proposed amendments to the BCO:
Motion to amend BCO 14-1.4. 49 For, 18 Against, 4 Abstentions
Motion to amend BCO 14-2. 49 For, 16 Against, 4 Abstentions
The Presbytery also voted on the remaining proposed amendments to the BCO.

The Moderator, TE Brad Allison, asked TE Thomas Joseph to pray for the denomination, which he did.

Several other items of note were approved during this meeting.

First, the Strategic Planning Subcommittee presented its proposal for strengthening and planting churches within Evangel Presbytery. After a brief discussion, the proposal was adopted.

Second, the 2011 proposed Evangel Presbytery budget was approved.

Third, the Nominations Committee presented its nominees for GA Permanent Committees as well as Presbytery Committees.

Finally, the Church and Pastor Care Committee requested a change in status for several men within the presbytery due to a change in call.

The presbytery concluded with prayer, giving thanks to God for His providence this year and looking forward to His work within and among us during 2011