ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians
New Presbyterian denomination has new name
The Layman, April 18, 2012
The most recent addition into the family of Presbyterian denominations now has a new name.
Effective April 9, the former Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, (ECO) became ECO: a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
Two summer
gatherings scheduled
ECO and the Fellowship of Presbyterians have scheduled two gatherings for August.
The first will be Aug. 20-21 at First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, Colo.; and the second will be Aug. 23-24 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, Ga.
Both the Colorado and Georgia events will feature the same line-up of speakers and workshop topics. The events will also include worship, presentations and fellowship.
Participants can start registering on May 7 by visiting the website, www.fellowship-pres.org/.
The change came about after the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) expressed a concern that the closeness of the two denomination’s names would have the potential of causing confusion, according to ECO’s press release.
The ECC expressed its concerns to the ECO leadership shortly after the formation of the new denomination was announced at the Fellowship of Presbyterians’ January 2012 meeting in Orlando.
The ECC based in Chicago, Ill., is a denomination of more than 700 churches in the United States and Canada. According to its website the ECC “values the Bible as the word of God, the gift of God’s grace and ever-deepening spiritual life that comes through a faith with Jesus Christ, the importance of extending God’s love and compassion to a hurting world, and the strength that comes from unity within diversity.”
“Our subsequent conversations with the ECC have been nothing but beautiful and respectful. We have looked at our core values and tried to live into our relationships as Christian brothers and sisters with mutual respect and affirmation of ministry,” stated the ECO press release. “Because we value this relationship and want to honor their concerns, we have agreed to modify our name slightly. We will keep the acronym ECO, but we will change the descriptors.”
ECO is the “new Reformed body” launched by the Fellowship of Presbyterians. It is a denomination committed to growing and planting churches and nurturing leaders. Its distinctives include an emphasis on connecting leaders in accountable relationships, peer review systems for churches, leadership training and a flat polity structure. ECO has a written polity and discipline document and theology document to guide those in the new denomination.
Changes in the benefit package
ECO has also published updates to its new benefit plan designed for the churches that join the denomination. Unveiled at the January meeting, ECO’s employee benefit program is committed to offering a comprehensive health benefits package that protects church employees and their families.
“When our individual lives are healthy and balanced, we are best equipped to advance the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ,” states the 2012/13 Employee Benefits Program brochure.
The changes to the plan include:
- Offering a “selection of plans, rather than a single core plan that limits care to in-network providers,”
- Including a “health savings account medical plan,”
- Offering a “continuation of coverage option for transitioning pastors and church staff,”
- Including a “Retiree ECO Medical Benefit Program (with increased premiums),”
- Creating a “dedicated on-line web portal for ECO employee enrollment and education,”
- Introducing a “wellness component to promote healthy lifestyles,” and
- Designating a “dedicated benefit enrollment administrator (Benefits Services Group).”
According to the brochure, the ECO’s goal is “to make available affordable and comprehensive health insurance coverage for pastors and church staff. To accomplish this goal, it is imperative all churches support the ECO Health Welfare program. Health insurance is a key benefit provided by all major denominations in the U.S. today. The majority of these programs require full participation from their member churches. With having the full participation requirement, the ECO program will capture enough membership to be viable in today’s medical insurance marketplace.”
For more information about the benefits program or ECO’s retirement plan, or to find out more about joining ECO, visit the website at www.fellowship-pres.org/.
The Layman Online will report on the number of churches and individuals joining ECO as they become available.
1 Comment. Leave new
I’m impressed! You’ve managed the almost impossible.