The Layman
Planning to attend the 34th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)? If so, it’s time to take care of registration.
Registration for the EPC’s annual GA gathering, held this year under the theme of “Tell the Story,” is now open. The event is scheduled to take place June 17-21 at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tenn.
The assembly begins on June 17 with a chaplains workshop from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a mini-workshop on “Healthy Habits for Sustainable Life and Ministry” from 1-4 p.m. A World Outreach meet and greet session from 1:30-4 p.m. will be followed by a World Outreach dinner and program from 6-8:30 p.m. that features Dr. Richard Alberta of Cornerstone EPC in Brighton, Mich., as the speaker.
The GA workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on June 18 will be led by Pastor Bob Roberts of Northwood Church in the Dallas/Fort Worth area on the topic of “Transformation.” The Rev. Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church – a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation – in New York City, will be speaking during a worship service hosted by Cedar Springs that evening from 7:30-9 p.m.
Business sessions of the General Assembly begin the morning of June 19 and continue through noon on June 21.
Pastor John Wood of Cedar Springs (morning) and World Outreach Director George Carey (evening) will be preaching during services on June 19, and Bill Dudley, moderator of the 33rd General Assembly, preaches the morning of June 20 during the Moderator’s Service of Communion and Prayer. David Dwight of Hope Church in Richmond, Va., will be speaking during the evening service. Scott Bowen, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Opelika, Ala., will deliver the morning message on June 21.
In addition to worship services and GA business, there will be gatherings throughout the event for Women in Ministry, college ministries, networking lunches for 12 groups offering various ministry topics, alumni breakfasts (Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary), and a variety of programs for children and youth will be offered by the host church.
Commissioners for the GA were elected in February, registration takes place in April, and any memorials for ruling elders and ministers who have died since the previous assembly at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo., in June 2013 can be made by returning the proper form to the Committee on Memorials and Appreciation.
Exhibit space also will be available, but all exhibitors have to be approved. Contact Sandy Milis at sandy.milis@epc.org for additional information.
Registration for the General Assembly can be handled at http://www.epcga.org/. The web page also has details regarding hotel accommodations and ground transportation for those who may be flying to the site, and an assembly schedule overview.
For information by phone, contact Della Cullins at 734-838-6940.
The EPC formed in 1981 with 12 churches from mainline Presbyterian denominations like the United Presbyterian and Presbyterian Church in the United States after leaders of the new Reformed denomination became distressed by the liberalism creeping into the denominations.
The formation of the EPC, headquartered in Livonia, Mich., created a denomination that took heed of the words of Scripture, the theology of historic confessions of the faith and the evangelical fervor of Presbyterian founders.
Today, the EPC consists of more than 500 churches and 145,000 members in 12 presbyteries.