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January 23, 2012
New Presbyterian Body Aims for Orthodoxy with Less Bureaucracy
(UPDATED) It's still unclear how many congregations will join the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians.
Update (February 6): The ECO held its first national synod last week, numbering 28 member churches thus far. The Institute on Religion and Democracy reports "another 48 churches are in the process of transitioning to ECO, and over 75 more are discerning a possible dismissal to ECO."
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Conservative Presbyterians launched a new denomination last week, saying that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is too consumed by internal conflicts and bureaucracy to nurture healthy congregations.
"This 'new Reformed body' is intended to foster a new way of being the church, just as traditional, mainline denominations rose to serve in their day," wrote leaders of the new Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians.
More than 2,000 people attended the ECO's meeting in Orlando, Fla., this week, but a straw poll indicated that most have not yet decided whether to leave the PC(USA), according to the Presbyterian Outlook, an independent magazine.
The creation of the ECO follows the PC(USA)'s churchwide vote last year to lift its longtime ban on gay clergy. Though homosexuality is not mentioned in the ECO's founding documents, its stated commitment to conservative theology and the inerrancy of the Bible indicates that gay clergy will not be tolerated.
The ECO also hopes to distinguish itself by creating peer review systems for churches, promoting leadership training, and instituting a less hierarchical form of government than the PC(USA), according to a statement.
Incoming congregations will be given the option of pursuing joint membership in both the PC(USA) and the ECO, or joining the ECO as full members, which would require dismissal from the PC(USA).
Several dozen congregations have already started to leave the PC(USA) to join another conservative denomination, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Unlike that denomination, the ECO says it is "fully committed" to allowing female clergy.
Though still the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S., the PC(USA) lost more than 500,000 members between 1998 and 2009, according to church statistics, and now has about 2 million members.
In a joint statement, eight PC(USA) elders pleaded with conservatives not to leave the denomination, even as they acknowledged tensions over the gay clergy decision.
"Do not allow one-sided presentations to be all you consider as you seek to discern God's call to you and your congregation," the elders wrote.
Comments
Has there been, or will there be, reporting on the rest of what happened in Orlando? FOP is not all about ECO.
I recall a saying about China: when a tree falls, it's noticed; when 10,000 trees grow an inch, no one notices.
There are other stories from Orlando, and ones which may in the end prove the more important.
So, I look forward to your continued reporting on FOP and on the varied intersections of Evangelicals and Presbyterians.
Posted By: Arthur Shippee | January 23, 2012 1:06 PM
I attended this meeting, but I have not seen or heard of the joint statement that this article reports was given by eight PCUSA elders pleading that the conservative not leave the denomination. I would like to see a link to that statement/document.
Posted By: Sally | January 23, 2012 1:09 PM
I'm just curious; why did those leaving the PCUSA not join other existing Evangelical Presbyterian denominations such as the OPC or the Presbyterian Church of America?
Posted By: John H. Guthrie | January 23, 2012 7:39 PM
In answer to the last question, many evangelical Presbyterians, while decidedly Christ Centered, disagree with the OPC and PCA on points of Biblical interpretation such as the ordination of women.
Also, I may be wrong but I believe the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (denomination), contrary to the statement in the article, does ordain women pastors and Elders. Correct me if I am wrong.
The important thing to remembet is that we are all in Christ despite differences.
Posted By: Larry Kreh | January 23, 2012 7:52 PM
What happens to the property and pensions etc.for those congregations and professional religious leaving the PC(USA?
Posted By: Gregory Peterson | January 23, 2012 10:38 PM
Tha's a problem. Churches cannot take their property with them if they leave the PCUSA, and pensions are not transferable. The congregation and PCUSA presbytery can negotiate the sale of the property but only at the discretion of the Presbytery.
Posted By: Larry Kreh | January 24, 2012 2:12 AM
A few clarifictions: 1) most presbyteries of the EPC now allow for the ordination of women pastors, but its tolerated, not affirmed, as it will be in ECO; 2) many but not all PCUSA presbyteries have dismissal policies design to avoid litigation, which allow congregations to leave with property after a prayerful, fair, and transparent conversation; 3) a pastor dismissed from the PCUSA receives all the pension credits to date, the only disadvantage is the necessity of starting a supplemental 403b for future savings.
Posted By: Michael Carey | January 24, 2012 9:50 AM
@ John Guthrie I had the same question myself. But some of the questions were answered in other posts. Still I would like to see a response from the leaders forming the new denomination .
Posted By: Basil | January 24, 2012 12:23 PM
Here is a link to the few body's FAQ page with extensive questions http://www.fellowship-pres.org/faqs/
Posted By: Basil | January 24, 2012 12:28 PM