Commissioners consider blueprint for receiving churches and pastors in a transitional status
The Layman Online, June 22, 2007
HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. – The Committee on Administration of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has provided commissioners to the 27th General Assembly a blueprint for receiving churches and pastors in a transitional status.
This structure underlies a proposal commissioners will consider this week that would create two administrative commissions – one for churches and pastors desiring transitional membership in established geographic EPC presbyteries, and another for those seeking to join a transitional, non-geographic New Wineskins Association of Churches-Evangelical Presbyterian Church Presbytery.
Titled “Structure for Receiving Churches and Pastors Transitionally” and included in commissioners’ handbooks, the blueprint reads as follows:
Purpose
“The purpose of this transitional structure and process is to provide a means by which congregations or associations and groups of congregations from other denominations and their pastors within the Reformed family of churches may become members of the EPC on a transitional basis toward the goal of full membership.
“The purpose of this proposal is not to undermine, circumvent or de-value the primary and fundamental responsibility of each presbytery to exercise its rights and responsibilities in receiving churches and ministers. In fact, it reflects deep gratitude for the work of the Spirit over the EPC’s short history in bringing us to the place of a generous, yet clear self-understanding as a Reformed confessional church practicing a healthy unity and diversity. Further, it reflects the desire of the General Assembly, its officers and resources to assist presbyteries in meeting the increasing number of non- EPC congregations inquiring into membership in the EPC.
Background
“The EPC believes that there is a fresh move of God across the United States and the world calling individuals, churches, associations and denominations to new and greater collective obedience to the Great Commission.
“Out of such a sense the Long Range Planning Committee formed by the 24th General Assembly has called our congregations to begin to think and act ‘missionally.’ As a denomination, we are trusting God to show us the implications of that call, the new priorities that such Great Commission thinking will require for us as individuals, congregations, presbyteries and General Assembly.
“We seek to be a missional, evangelical, Reformed and Presbyterian body that brings glory to God as He extends his kingdom in the United States and the world through us. The following process is committed to that end.
Period of transitional structure
“Transitional membership shall be possible as of the adjournment of the 27th General Assembly and shall end on June 30, 2012. Principles of transitional membership
“1. Transitional membership will allow existing presbyteries and transitional member churches and pastors the time and opportunity to fully assess the mutual expectations doctrinally, missionally, legislatively and financially before committing to full membership. It will do so by providing an expeditious and optimal situation by which that process of discernment can begin.
“2. Associations or groups of congregations and their pastors desiring to do so may function as non-geographic transitional presbyteries during the period described above. All churches and pastors entering the EPC on a transitional basis must affirm ‘Essentials of our Faith’ without any reservations.
“3. The General Assembly shall establish a commission or commissions to create transitional presbyteries, to receive churches and ministers into transitional membership and to oversee their work as it deems wise and appropriate. A commission may form a transitional presbytery that allows an existing association of churches to function under its own constitution during the transitional period, provided that the commission and the association work toward full assimilation during the transitional period.
“4. All churches and pastors entering the EPC on a transitional basis must acknowledge the Westminster Confession and Catechisms to be the sole subordinate confessional standards of the EPC and, with regard to disciplinary matter, will follow the EPC Book of Discipline.
“5. When received from transitional to full membership, teaching and ruling elders must meet existing requirements for subscription to the Westminster Confession and Catechisms. Examinations in such cases will be based on views and beliefs as provided for in Book of Government 13-5.1 Ministers and elders of transitional member churches will have existing presbytery members and resources made available to them to assist in preparation for meeting these subscription standards.
“6. The approach to and understanding of confessional subscription to be applied is that adopted by the 21st General Assembly where subscription to ‘Essentials of our Faith’ is required without exception and where each presbytery is responsible for allowing or disallowing exceptions to the confessional standards of the church.
“7. Authority to create, dissolve, establish and alter presbyteries shall remain with the General Assembly. Those boundaries may be reassessed and changed during, at the conclusion of or following the period of this transitional structure in order to enhance and advance the mission of the church.
“8. Member churches of transitional presbyteries shall be encouraged to establish relationships with existing EPC congregations in their geographic area, to engage in cooperative ministry and participate in ministry networks.
“9. Transitional member churches may call and dissolve relationships with ministers under the provisions of the Book of Government.
“10. At the conclusion of the transitional period, all congregations and ministers not received into full membership shall be dismissed.
“11. Transitional congregations and ministers may request dismissal from transitional membership at any time according to and following the provisions of the Book of Government including 5-6.
“12. All transitional church ministers and staff members shall be regarded as eligible for EPC benefits programs subject to the limitations and exclusions of the retirement and medical plan documents. For purposes of the EPC Defined Contribution Retirement Plan and Health Plan only, churches that are members of transitional presbyteries will be considered particular member churches.
“13. All transitional member congregations will be asked to participate in the Per Member Asking to the best of their ability. Transitional presbyteries may establish additional askings for their own operations.
“14. The process and provisions for transitional membership may be applied by existing EPC presbyteries to receive churches directly into transitional membership.
“15. Because the particular church has ownership of its own property, no judicatory of the EPC assumes any liability or responsibility for resolution of local property disputes arising from efforts to be dismissed from other bodies.
“16. The EPC maintains a range of formal relationships with other Reformed denominations and will employ, to the extent possible, the means those relationships provide for facilitating their reception into either full or transitional membership. Independent churches may also be received into full or transitional membership.
“17. This transitional structure and process is in no way intended to discourage or preclude congregations from direct transfer and reception into full membership of the EPC.”