Commissioners to the 27th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church approved June 22 a proposal to ease the transfer of churches into the EPC from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The proposal, developed and approved by delegates to the New Wineskins Convocation this past February in Orlando, calls for the formation of a transitional, non-geographic presbytery. It will provide a “haven” for up to five years for PC(USA)-departing churches to explore whether the EPC is where they wish to join permanently.
The EPC GA also appointed an administrative commission to oversee the process for churches and pastors seeking transitional membership in what is now being called the “New Wineskins Association of Churches — Evangelical Presbyterian Church Presbytery,” according to the EPC’s Office of the General Assembly. The 10-member commission includes five members from the PC(USA): Gerrit Dawson, pastor of First Church, Baton Rouge, La.; Carmen Fowler, associate pastor of Providence Church in Hilton Head, S.C.; Renee Guth, elder at Northminster Church in Tucson, Ariz.; Randy Jenkins, pastor of Central Church in Huntsville, Ala.; and Dean Weaver, pastor of Memorial Park Church in Allison Park, Pa. Jenkins and Weaver both lead churches that have voted to leave the PC(USA) for the EPC.
The New Wineskins Association of Churches includes 160 member churches, some of whom are exploring transfer, while many others intend to stay in the PC(USA). Unconfirmed sources say that approximately 30 churches in the PC(USA) have initiated efforts to leave and, of them, that approximately 18 have actually voted in congregational meetings to request dismissal.
As Weaver and Dawson, co-moderators of the NWAC stated in a press release, “We know that many of the New Wineskins churches are called to remain in the PC(USA), living out this vision right where they are. We also know that many of our churches are being called out, and we express our deepest gratitude for the open arms into which they will be received.”
