April 17, 2009

Inquiry of Evangelical Presbyterian Church is underway

Task force makes visits to PC(USA) presbyteries where congregations have left for the EPC

A task force has begun looking into the conduct of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in its dealings with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations that have left the PC(USA) for the EPC.

The task force was named by the General Assembly Committee on Ecumenical Relations (GACER) in response to an overture to the 218th General Assembly (2008) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that was referred to the GACER. The overture requested that the assembly “investigate the actions and conduct of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church ….”

The assembly’s action grows out of a concern that the EPC is “actively pursuing a strategy to persuade Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) churches to disaffiliate with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and be dismissed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.”

The rationale went on to note the transitional presbytery the EPC has created “to facilitate the process” of PC(USA) congregations wishing to become part of the EPC.

The task force has identified nine presbyteries that have direct experience with PC(USA) congregations that have been dismissed to the EPC or are in conversation about leaving the PC(USA).

The group has begun visits in pairs to the nine presbyteries for face-to-face interviews with presbytery staff, as well as leaders and members of congregations that have left (or are considering leaving) and “loyalist” leaders and members of those same congregations that have remained part of the PC(USA).

The nine presbyteries are Eastminster, Northern Alabama, Peace River (which submitted the overture leading to the action of last year’s General Assembly), Pittsburgh, Redstone, Sacramento, South Louisiana (and Synod of the Sun), Wabash Valley, and Western Carolina.

Chairing the task force is the Reverend Krystin Granberg (New York City Presbytery), who is also a member of the GACER. Joining her are the Reverends Terry Epling (Giddings-Lovejoy Presbytery), Joy Kaufmann (Huntingdon Presbytery), Eugene Turner (Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery), and Jeffrey Vamos (New Brunswick Presbytery).

The Reverend Robina Winbush, Associate Stated Clerk and Director of the Department of Agency and Ecumenical Relations for the Office of the General Assembly, is serving as staff to the group.

The task force will meet in the fall to evaluate the results of the presbytery visits and begin the process of writing its report to the GACER.