EPC considers proposal
for new affinity presbytery
over women’s ordination issue
The Layman, November 13, 2008
The New Wineskins/Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) Transitional Presbytery Commission announced on Nov. 12 a proposal that “a permanent, non-geographic affinity presbytery be considered at the 2009 General Assembly.” The announcement was posted in a special report on the EPC Web site and published in EPNews.
Concerns about the ordination of women as teaching elders in the EPC prompted the proposal. The EPC currently has “two presbyteries that prohibit women teaching elders,” two that “will not use gender as a consideration,” two more that have a policy that “allows consideration of women ministers and candidates without violating conscience,” as well as two that have the issue under consideration, aiming for a conclusion by “the second week of February 2009.”
Bill Meyer, chair of the NW/EPC Transitional Presbytery Commission, emphasized that the proposal is just in the talking stages. He said that “it is simply a talking point over the next couple of years as we bring about a full integration of the New Wineskins Association of Churches and the EPC.”
As it stands, the proposed presbytery would be made up of congregations that welcome women elders and may not have been associated with churches sharing that interpretation of Scripture. The EPC’s Mid-America Presbytery is considering an overture “asking the 2009 General Assembly to approve an affinity presbytery within its boundaries.”
This proposal is a work in progress, as the Committee on Administration (COA) made clear in its written response to the announcement. “We recognize that an affinity presbytery is one of a number of possible solutions to the dilemma of women teaching elders in the EPC. While we do not believe it is the ideal solution, nevertheless, it may be the ultimate solution.” The COA suggested a joint effort between the two bodies to resolve “significant issues that need to be addressed and resolved before a proposal such as this can be advanced to the General Assembly.”
There have been concerns within the New Wineskins Association of Churches by those congregations considering a move from the PCUSA to the EPC.
The Commission’s report was received and discussed at the recent NW/EPC Transitional Presbytery meeting in Cleveland, Ohio. Presbytery members were also encouraged to “review and suggest improvements” to members of the NW/EPC Transitional Presbytery Commission. Members of that Commission include Zelda Artz, Chris Danusiar, Gerrit Dawson, Trish Dietz, Dennis Gorman, Randy Jenkins, Bill Meyer, Marty Martin, Dean Weaver and Ed Wedin. Ex officio members are Nate Atwood, Mac McCarty, Jeff Jeremiah, Allen Roes and Bill Vogler.
The Layman recently reported that there are slightly more women than men serving as elders in the PCUSA, by a count of 46,662 women to 46,564 men.