(By Chuck Wiggins, The Presbyterian Outlook). “I often wonder what kind of shape the Presbyterian Church would be in today if the Orthodox Presbyterians, the PCA, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and ECO had not departed,” mused Joseph D. Small, former Presbyterian Church (USA.) Theology & Worship director. Those particularly thought provoking words came during the…
(By Dana Allin, Synod Executive for ECO). In the last six months, I have tried to ascertain what are the greatest needs of ECO churches. I have conducted informal and formal questioning around this subject with various pastors and congregational leaders. I have compared their answers with my own observations from personal interactions. While all of…
Juan Sarmiento has been named Associate Director for Mission of The Outreach Foundation. He will officially begin his duties on November 1. Since 1979, The Outreach Foundation has connected congregations and people in the United States with church partners around the world in Christ-centered evangelistic mission. Today, Outreach focuses on Presbyterian partners in places in…
By David E. Malloy, The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, WV). More than 80 new members were enrolled Sunday at the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians, also called the Christ Presbyterian Church, which is conducting services at the B’Nai Shalom Temple on 10th Avenue. A number of the members of the First Presbyterian Church in the Tri-State broke…
By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post. A conservative Presbyterian denomination formed in response to the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s increasing acceptance of homosexuality has reached the milestone of 300 member congregations. “We are blessed to have each and every church and church member in our ECO family. As we grow, it is our prayer that we continue…
By Lee Shearer, Online Athens. (Georgia) After a months-long quiet period, an Athens church’s move to secede from its denomination could be headed toward resolution. An administrative committee of the Northeast Georgia Presbytery scheduled two meetings this month with the congregation of Central Presbyterian Church, whose congregation earlier this year voted to leave the country’s…
By Dana Allin, the ECO blog. At ECO’s national gathering in Newport Beach this past January, I led a breakout session called, “In ECO, Now What?” This question often gets asked in a variety of different ways. I will get phone calls or e-mails stating that a congregation has been in ECO (usually for 6…
By Michael Gryboski, The Christian Post. A conservative Presbyterian church formed in 2012 will soon be splitting one of their regional bodies, or presbyteries, into three entities in response to rapid growth. The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians is in the process of dividing up the Presbytery of the Northeast into three new regional bodies….
MICHAEL GRYBOSKI of The Christian Post reports: The Presbyterian Church (USA) is continuing its legal battle against a Pennsylvania megachurch that voted overwhelmingly to leave the Mainline denomination over theological differences. Last month, First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem voted to leave PC(USA) for the more conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians. FPC Bethlehem held the…
Governing body moves to oust First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem’s pastor, replace leadership By Sarah Wojcik, The Morning Call. A dispute over denominational identity has taken another divisive turn in Bethlehem, where the Lehigh Presbytery is canceling its contract with the new pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and preparing to push aside church…