There are several things that make Vanguard Presbytery, and the new denomination which will be formed out of this new movement, an attractive option for those who want a confessional and Reformed denomination. A priority of every local church and regional court in this new denomination will be to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for revival, and for the gospel to be preached in sound doctrine.

The Steering Committee of Vanguard Presbytery is calling for a Convocation of Sessions for July 30, 2020, D.V. The Convocation will meet at Stephens Valley Church, 6000 Pasquo Road, Nashville, TN 37221, pastored by Rev. Jim Bachmann. The details of the meeting are still being planning. You can expect as priorities extended times of prayer and messages to exhort the church to greater faithfulness in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Over the next number of months, churches from around the country will be voting to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and other denominations and to affiliate with Vanguard Presbytery. The sentiment of several of these churches is summed up by one pastor who told stated, “When you have to overture the General Assembly to amend the BCO to include language which forbids homosexual or same-sex attracted ministers, you have already lost the battle.”

There are several things that make Vanguard Presbytery, and the new denomination which will be formed out of this new movement, an attractive option for those who want a confessional and Reformed denomination:

A priority of every local church and regional court in this new denomination will be to pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, for revival, and for the gospel to be preached in sound doctrine.

Second, there will be an emphasis on the spirituality of the Church and her mission.

Third, the Great Commission will be enacted and directed at the session and presbytery levels. Instead of a top-heavy bureaucracy at the General Assembly any committees will exist to support the ministries of the local churches and presbyteries.

Fourth, the office of evangelist (alluded to in all Presbyterian books of polity, including the PCA BCO) will be a reality in Vanguard Presbytery.

Fifth, the polity of Vanguard Presbytery will be distinctly grassroots and will require that all overtures to amend the Constitution must demonstrate the Scriptural necessity for approval and the impact of making such a change.

Sixth, there will be no permanent committees, boards, or agencies at the General Assembly level.

Seventh, Vanguard Presbytery will require full subscription to the Westminster Standards which is not to be confused with “every jot and tittle” subscription which is reserved for Scripture alone.

Eighth, Vanguard Presbytery will allow only one view on creation, that is, that God created the heavens and earth in the space of six 24-hour days and all very good.

Ninth, in Vanguard Presbytery every congregation will own their own property and will be unimpeded in leaving the denomination at any time for any reason.

Tenth, Vanguard Presbytery will live out the true meaning of what every Presbyterian book of polity says about church power, that it is “wholly spiritual, ministerial and declarative only.”

Eleventh, every committee, commission, board, or agency of any court in Vanguard Presbytery will be completely subject to the court that appointed it which means that executive committees and executive sessions will not be permitted to function for the whole body.

We invite you to join us on July 30 for the Convocation of Sessions.

Download, read and sign the vows for teaching and ruling elders in Vanguard Presbyter.

Dewey Roberts is Pastor at Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, FL. He is the author of Historic Christianity and the Federal Vision and Samuel Davies: Apostle to Virginia.