(By Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post). A fast-growing theologically conservative Presbyterian denomination will be holding its latest National Gathering later this month in South Carolina.
The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, a denomination formed in 2012 in response to the increasingly liberal positions of the Presbyterian Church (USA), will be holding its 2017 National Gathering Jan. 24-26.
First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, a congregation of about 3,500 members that joined ECO back in 2012, is the scheduled location for the major gathering.
The Rev. Richard Gibbons, senior pastor of FPC Greenville, told The Christian Post that his church was chosen as the site for the gathering for multiple reasons. “A large central meeting area was required for the plenary sessions, as was multiple breakout rooms for smaller seminars and workshops,” said Gibbons.
“The other very practical question was the weather and South Carolina should be pleasant at the end of January. In addition to the above, First Presbyterian is located downtown with several major hotels within walking distance on Main Street.”
Gibbons also told CP that his congregation will be occupied with preparing the church for the National Gathering, as they expect approximately 1,100 pastors and elders to come.
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Great to see the progress of the ECO, and I wonder how many ECO churches that left the PCUSA has established new churches from Matt. 28:18-20??? If zero, why did you leave??
Is this their General Assembly, or the equivalent?
I’m disappointed the ECO congregations felt the need to start another Presbyterian denomination, when there are already so many in North America. I’m disappointed they adopted the same Book of Confessions as they had in the PCUSA, instead of holding to and subscribing to a single confessional standard. However, it may be too much to expect them to actively be starting a lot of new churches, when they are still receiving congregations fleeing the PCUSA. I’m glad these congregations have a place to go. I pray congregations, individuals, officers and ministers will discover the roots of the Reformed and Presbyterian tradition and practice, now that they are not fighting about matters that should have been settled long ago.