Executive Presbyters Stated Clerks
Presbyteries of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing in response to the recent decision of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii in the case of the Session of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church vs. the Presbytery of Santa Barbara. The decision states that ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians and its Presbytery of the West were mischaracterized as a Reformed body.
The decision, however, reflects a number of statements that are simply inaccurate since the time the complaint was initially filed on June 2, 2012. I’m writing to address the inaccuracies in order to assure you that ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, and its Presbytery of the West are indeed Reformed bodies, as our polity and theology clearly evidence.
Let me begin by addressing questions of theology and the Essential Tenets. As most are aware, ECO adopted all 11 confessions and catechisms from the Book of Confessions of the PC(USA). We believe these still guide our ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. read more
