Category Archives: General Assembly Meeting

#epc2023ga the official hashtag for the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

The EPC is “better together,” so add your voice to the proceedings of the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit by including the hashtag #epc2023ga on your social media posts. Connect your message with others on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms.

If you are not attending the Assembly, you can watch the live stream and monitor the social media feed at the same time at www.epc.org/ga2023livestream. The Gospel Priorities Summit plenaries on Tuesday and Wednesday, the worship services, and the business sessions will be available on the stream.

Audio recordings of the Gospel Priorities Summit equipping sessions on Thursday and select Networking Lunches also will be available following the Assembly.

Start connecting!

#epc2023ga

Multiple prayer opportunities provided to undergird 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

Opportunities for prayer abound at the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo. The Cherry Hills Prayer Ministry is hosting all-day prayer sessions each day, as well as a Wednesday morning prayer service before the Assembly convenes.

Ongoing Intercessory Prayer
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Cherry Hills Chapel Sanctuary (except Wednesday, 4:00 pm. to 5:00 p.m. during the Ministerial Vocation Standing Committee)

Drop-In Prayer
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Chapel Sanctuary (except Wednesday, 4:00 pm. to 5:00 p.m. during the Ministerial Vocation Standing Committee)

Prayer Service
Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the Chapel Sanctuary that will include worship, a devotional, and intercessory prayer.

On-Call Prayer Ministry
Contact the prayer Ministry directly through the Prayer section of the GA app.

For more information about the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, including daily schedules, worship service preachers, business items, and more, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

#epc2023ga

Aaron White, GA Wednesday worship morning service speaker, the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 81

Aaron White

Aaron White, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in South Charleston, Ohio, is the guest for episode 81 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” White is the preacher for the Wednesday morning worship service at the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Host Dean Weaver and White discuss his journey to pastoral ministry, the joys and challenges of pastoring a growing church in a rural community, and how White intentionally harnessing the cycles of the year for discipleship in the congregation. White also previews his June 21 General Assembly sermon from 1 Corinthians 12, and highlights the GA presentations of the Westminster Society, an EPC networking group that seeks to promote confessional churchmanship in the denomination.

Episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, and others. Search “In All Things” on any of these services.

The audio recordings also are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/inallthings.

43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit final preparations underway

In an annual tradition, it’s “all hands on deck” for the staff of the Office of the General Assembly compiling registration packets for the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. Ensuring that each Commissioner’s lanyard receives the proper credentials, meal tickets, and more are Marti Ratcliff, Kristi Jeffcoat, Bart Francescone, Carla Cora, Gabriel de Guia, Jordin Greer, Torres Kearney, April Hair, Scott Blanchette, Rachel Joseph, Pat Coelho, Dean Weaver, Vanessa Mullendore, and Zenaida Bermudez.

The Assembly will be held June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Go to www.epc.org/ga2023 for complete GA information, including schedule, worship service speakers, business session documents, and more.

#epc2023ga

Commissioner’s Handbook, committee reports available for 43rd General Assembly

The 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit Commissioner’s Handbook and reports from the EPC’s permanent and interim committees to the Assembly are now available for download in PDF format at www.epc.org/ga2023documents. The Handbook is available in its entirety as well by individual sections.

The Assembly will be held June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

“Every Commissioner should take time between now and the Assembly to familiarize themselves with the Recommendations we will act on,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “Our committees have done their homework and each of their recommendations deserve prayerful consideration.”

Other documents available include the 2022 Annual Church Report; Auditor’s reports of the EPC’s Combined Financial Statements and Benefit Resources, Inc, (BRI) Benefits Plan and Retirement Plan financial statements; Churches Received, Dismissed, and Dissolved in 2022-2023; Provisional Minutes of the 42nd General Assembly, and more.

In addition, assignments for the Standing Committees on Administration, Fraternal Relations, Memorials and Appreciation, Theology, and World Outreach are available. Commissioners will participate in Standing Committees on Wednesday, June 21.

#epc2023ga

Shelley Kral, GA worship service speaker and Associate Pastor for Longview (Texas) EPC the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 80

Shelley Kral

Shelley Kral, Associate Pastor for Longview Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Longview, Texas, is the guest for episode 80 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” Kral is the preacher for the Tuesday morning worship service at the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Host Dean Weaver and Kral discuss her path to ministry from Southern California to a Lutheran college in the Pacific Northwest to Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando to Longview in East Texas. Kral also describes a vision she and her husband had for a pastoral retreat center eventually resulting in the creation of Enoch’s Stomp Vineyard & Winery near Longview. She also explains how the vineyard illustrates the truths of John 15.

Episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, and others. Search “In All Things” on any of these services.

The audio recordings also are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/inallthings.

Cherry Hills Community Church pastor Curt Taylor the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 79

Curt Taylor

Curt Taylor, Pastor of Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo., is the guest for episode 79 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” Cherry Hills is the host church for the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22, and this episode begins a four-week series featuring the Assembly’s worship service speakers.

Host Dean Weaver and Taylor discuss Cherry Hills’ excitement in hosting this year’s General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit. Taylor also describes his path to Colorado and the EPC from Texas, including some of the challenges and opportunities in sharing the gospel in those two culturally different parts of the country. He also relates some ways the church can address division in culture.

Episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, and others. Search “In All Things” on any of these services.

The audio recordings also are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/inallthings.

Effective Biblical Leadership insights a key component of 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

The EPC’s 43rd General Assembly/Gospel Priorities Summit features training and equipping sessions based on the denomination’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Planting, Church Health, Global Movement, and Effective Biblical Leadership. This year’s Assembly takes place June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Addressing the priority of Effective Biblical Leadership, several EPC pastors and other leaders will provide guidance in becoming a more effective leader, pastoral transitions, Reformed theology, pastoral health, and more.

Tuesday, June 20

Networking Lunch: “Disability Ministry and Support.” Hosted by Michelle Munger, author of Margins of Grace: Becoming Champions of Faith and Family in the Midst of Disability.
Networking Lunch: “How to Revitalize your Leadership Pipeline.” Hosted by Scott Manor, President of Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Networking Lunch: “Navigating the Letters (LGBTQ+) with a Family Member.” Hosted by Scott Kingry, Program Director for Where Grace Abounds.
Networking Lunch: “Revival and Revivalism in American Presbyterianism.” Hosted by Don Fortson, Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary’s Charlotte, N.C., campus.

Wednesday, June 21

Plenary Session: “What Is an Effective Biblical Leader?” Led by Michael Davis, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk.
Networking Lunch: “Executive Pastors and Church Administrators.” Hosted by Patrick Coelho, EPC Chief Financial Officer.
Networking Lunch: “Revelation 7:9: How to be a Community-Conscious Congregation.” Hosted by Rufus Smith, Senior Pastor of Hope Church in Cordova, Tenn., and Co-Chairman of the EPC Revelation 7:9 Task Force.
Networking Lunch: “Sharpening Parent Skills Amidst Today’s Adolescent Crisis.” Hosted by Bill Senyard, President of Gospel App Ministries.
Networking Lunch: “Small Church Leadership: Developing the Body In Its Call to Hope.” Hosted by Bill Crawford, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Thibodaux, La., and First Presbyterian Church in Houma, La.; and Suzanne Zampella, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, N.M., and First Presbyterian Church of Hagerman, N.M.
Networking Lunch: “The Contemporary Significance of Westminster Divine Edward Reynolds (1599-1676).” Hosted by Jeff Jeremiah, EPC Stated Clerk Emeritus.

Thursday, June 22

Equipping Session 1: “A Fond Farewell: Navigating a Healthy Pastoral Transition.” Led by Kent Mathews, President of Heartland Theological Seminary in Kansas City and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for the Presbytery of the Great Plains; and Annie Rose, EPC Director of Ministerial Support and Development and Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes.
Equipping Session 2: “A Most Vital Expression: Using the Westminster Standards in the 21st Century and Beyond.” Led by Zach Hopkins, Pastor of Edgington Presbyterian Church in Taylor Ridge, Ill.; and Marcos Ortega, Lead Pastor of the Beacon, N.Y., campus of Goodwill Church.
Equipping Session 3: “Pastoral Health and Effectiveness.” Led by Kent Mathews, Doug Resler, and Rachel White. Mathews serves as President of Heartland Theological Seminary in Kansas City and is the Coordinator of the EPC’s Mentored Apprenticeship Program (MAP). Resler serves as Senior Pastor of Parker Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Parker, Colo. White serves as Pastor for Lifegroups and Alpha at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash.
Networking Lunch: “Healthy Leadership Development in Church Planting.” Hosted by Cron Gibson, Founder and Executive Director of Hopewell Equipping and Counseling Center in Virginia Beach, Va.
Networking Lunch: “Liturgical Worship, the Regulative Principle, and Presbyterianism.” Hosted by Zac Hicks, Pastor of Church of the Cross in Birmingham, Ala.
Networking Lunch: “Reaching a Generation Like None Other.” Hosted by Jen Burkholder, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO).
Networking Lunch: “The Awakening Power of a Great Question.” Hosted by Dave Meserve, Affiliate Coach for PastorServe.
Networking Lunch: “The Power of Rest: Embracing Sabbaticals for Ministry Health.” Hosted by Roy Yanke, Executive Director of PIR Ministries.

Online registration with a cost of $345 per person runs until June 15. The registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

For more information about the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit and to register, see www.epc.org/ga2023. For full details about all the equipping opportunities on the EPC’s four Gospel Priorities, go to www.epc.org/ga2023gospelprioritiessummit.

Church Health equipping opportunities abound at the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

The EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit features training and equipping sessions based on the denomination’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Planting, Church Health, Global Movement, and Effective Biblical Leadership. This year’s Assembly takes place June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Numerous opportunities are planned to help attendees learn more about the EPC Church Health Team’s strategies for personal and corporate evangelism, as well as the critical role a Transitional Pastor can play in church health while shepherding a congregation that is between installed pastors.

Wednesday, June 21

Plenary Session: “Celebrating Evangelism in the EPC” led by Thomas D., Jeff Moore, Bob Stauffer, and Mark V.; and “Love Thy Neighborhood” led by Keon Abner and Marc de Jeu. Abner is the Founding Pastor of Bridge City Church in Cleveland, Ohio; de Jeu serves as Church Health Coordinator and Mission Mobilizer for the Presbytery of the Alleghenies; D. and V. serve with EPC World Outreach; Moore is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Ill.; and Stauffer serves as the EPC’s National Director of Church Health.
Networking Lunch: “Come and Ask Your Church Health Questions.” Hosted by Bob Stauffer and members of the EPC National Church Health Team.

Thursday, June 22

Equipping Session 1: “Building an Evangelistic Culture Utilizing 3 Circles.” Led by Mark Farrell, Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Fla.
Equipping Session 2: “Do Less Better: The Power of Focus in your Church’s Health.” Led by Stefan Bomberger, Pastor of Manoa Community Church in Manoa, Pa.
Equipping Session 3: “Help, Our Pastor Left … What’s Next?” Led by Bill Rasch, Director of Transitional Pastor Ministries in West Lafayette, Ind., and member of the Church Health Team.
Networking Lunch: “Discerning and Engaging the Culture Through Film.” Hosted by Ritchey Cable, Pastor of Gashland Presbyterian Church in Kansas City and screenwriter of the feature-length film, “The Author.”

Online registration with a cost of $345 per person runs until June 15. The registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

For more information about the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit and to register, see www.epc.org/ga2023. For full details about all the equipping opportunities on the EPC’s four Gospel Priorities, go to www.epc.org/ga2023gospelprioritiessummit.

General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit early registration ends May 15

If you have not yet registered for the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in suburban Denver, Colo., don’t delay—the $50 early registration discount ends on May 15.

Consider five reasons why you should register now:

Equipping: The theme this year is “Sharpen” and as iron sharpens iron, we want to sharpen each other together. Each day will have equipping sessions based on one of our Gospel Priorities (Church Planting, Church Health, Global Movement, and Effective Biblical Leadership). In the past, these concluded by noon on Wednesday. That’s the “Gospel Priorities Summit” this year: equipping and business are integrated in each day’s schedule.
Business: We convene on Tuesday and adjourn on Thursday. Yes, GA is three days this year instead of four. We want to be good stewards of your time and resources. In addition, the business we will address deserves having as many Commissioners involved as possible. In previous years, much of our important business fell on Friday when many Commissioners had already left.
Worship and Fellowship: We begin and end each day with a dynamic worship service featuring the Cherry Hills worship team and one of our own EPC pastors bringing a message from God’s Word. As far as fellowship, you will renew friendships with people you may have not seen in a year (or more), plus make new friends who share your commitment to Christ and His church.
Denver in June: Long, sunny days. Warm—but not too warm—temperatures. Cool evenings. No humidity. Need more? Come early or stay after and enjoy some outdoor activities in the mountains.
Registration: Early registration ends on Monday, May 15, with a fee of $295 per person. New this year is that the registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. On May 16 the fee increases to $345 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person. Register early—only those Commissioners who register by May 15 will be placed on a Standing Committee.

For Ruling Elders planning to attend, don’t forget to complete the two-part registration process. Step one is to ensure that your Clerk of Session has completed and submitted the Commissioner Certification Form. To vote at the Assembly, Ruling Elders need certification that their Session has elected them as a Commissioner. Also, be sure they are registered (before May 15).

For more information, including Gospel Priorities Summit speakers, worship service preachers, daily schedules, and to register, click here or go to www.epc.org/ga2023.

Worship services integral to 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

Worship has held a central role in the EPC General Assembly since the first gathering in 1981. The 43rd Assembly is no exception. Worship services will open and close each day of the meeting, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Shelley Kral, Associate Pastor for Longview EPC in Longview, Texas, will preach in the Assembly’s opening worship service on Tuesday, June 20. Her message, “Love on the Go,” is based on John 17:24-26. The service begins at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain).

Mike Kuhn, Director of the International Theological Education Network of EPC World Outreach, will preach on Tuesday evening, June 20. His message, “To the Nations: A Pursuit of Passion,” is based on Isaiah 49:6, Acts 8:1-8, and Acts 8:26-38. The service will feature the commissioning of the newest World Outreach global workers, and an offering will be received for the EPC’s Global Worker Health Fund. Proceeds will fund projects designed to help restore the emotional and spiritual health of World Outreach global workers. The service begins at 7:00 p.m. (Mountain).

Aaron White, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in South Charleston, Ohio, will deliver the message at the Morning Worship Service on Wednesday, June 21. His message, “Eagerly Desiring Unity,” is based on 1 Corinthians 12. The service begins at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain).

Mark Farrell, Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Fla., will preach from Psalm 67 on Wednesday evening, June 21. His message is entitled “Blessed to be a Blessing” and the service will feature the annual memorial for EPC Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders who have passed away since the previous Assembly. An offering will be received for the EPC’s Care of Pastors and Spouses Fund. Proceeds will fund projects designed to help restore the emotional and spiritual health of EPC pastors. The service begins at 7:00 p.m. (Mountain).

Rosemary Lukens, Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly, will lead the Moderator’s Communion Service at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain) on Thursday, June 22. Her message, “Our Eyes Are Upon You” focuses on 2 Chronicles 20:12. Lukens is a Ruling Elder for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Curt Taylor, Senior Pastor of host church Cherry Hills Community Church will conclude the annual meeting by preaching on the Assembly theme of “Sharpen” from Ephesians 4:12. An offering will be received for the EPC’s Moderator’s Scholarship Fund. Donations provide financial assistance to offset travel costs for ministers and Ruling Elders from smaller EPC churches who otherwise may not be able to attend General Assembly. The service begins at 7:00 p.m. (Mountain).

All worship services will be live streamed on the EPC website and in the GA app. For more information or to register, go to www.epc.org/ga2023.

43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit FAQs

You have questions … we have answers about the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly/Gospel Priorities Summit. This year’s Assembly takes place June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

“I get lots of questions about GA,” said Marti Ratcliff, General Assembly Team Lead in the EPC Office of the General Assembly. “I am happy to answer those calls and emails, but we thought it would be helpful to communicate the answers to those that I get most often.”

Q: I submitted the Ruling Elder Commissioner Certification Form for our church. Do these REs still need to register for GA?

A: Yes, all Commissioners (TE and RE) need to register for the Assembly. This is separate from being certified by their church.

Q. I only want to attend one session during the Assembly. Do I still need to register?

A. Yes, but if you are only attending one session on one day you can purchase a Day Pass at a reduced rate. This is available through the online registration form.

Q. Is there a discount for Commissioner spouses to attend GA?

A. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide a spouse discount this year. We do everything we can to keep costs down but everything, especially in Colorado, has gone up since last year. The cost to put on GA is approximately $300,000. Our average in-person attendance—except for the virtual and hybrid Assemblies in 2020 and 2021—has been about 1,000. This is how we calculate the registration fee each year. Also, we check with other denominations and organizations that hold similar events. We have been the outlier related to spouse fees. Even with a flat rate this year, our registration fee is less than similar meetings.

Q: I saw a category on the registration form for WO Child. Can I being my kids and register them as a WO child?

A: No. We only provide childcare for our World Outreach global workers. This is not solely an EPC decision, but also involves the host church and state regulations regarding vetted childcare workers.

Q: What hotels have a discounted EPC General Assembly rate?

A: None. The cost and administrative load involved with hotel contracts for GA has become prohibitive. We now recommend online hotel booking sites like expedia, kayak, hotels.com, etc., to find a room that fits your budget. In addition, vacation rental homes such as Airbnb and vrbo are an increasingly popular option for people who are open to sharing accommodations.

“I am very excited about our time together at Cherry Hills in June and look forward with anticipation for what God is going to do in our midst,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk.

Online registration with a cost of $295 per person runs until May 15. The registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. The $50 early registration discount ends on May 15, when the fee increases to $345 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

For more information and to register, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit provides church planting helps, information

The EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit features training and equipping sessions based on the denomination’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Planting, Church Health, Global Movement, and Effective Biblical Leadership. The Assembly takes place June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Opportunities occur each day to learn more about how every EPC church can become a parent, patron, or partner of church planting.

Tuesday, June 20

Plenary Session 1: “A Gospel- and Mission-Centric Movement” followed by “A Compelling Narrative and Hermeneutic for Evangelism.” Led by Michael Carrion, Vice President for Church Planting and Leadership Development for Redeemer City to City in New York City.
Networking Lunch: “Apologetic Principles for Church Planting.” Hosted by Tommy Allen, Planting Pastor of EPC Spokane in Spokane, Wash., and Shane Sunn, Executive Director of the Aspen Grove Church Planting Network in Denver, Colo.
Networking Lunch: “Choosing to Plant a Multi-Ethnic Church.” Hosted by Sean Boone, Planting Pastor of Woke Bridge Community Church in Ferguson, Mo., and Marcos Ortega, Lead Pastor of Goodwill Church Beacon in Beacon, N.Y.

Wednesday, June 21

Networking Lunch: “An Introduction to Multi-Ethnic Church Planting.” Hosted by Michael Carrion.

Thursday, June 22

Networking Lunch: “Healthy Leadership Development in Church Planting.” Hosted by Cron Gibson, Executive Director of Hopewell Equipping and Counseling Ministry in Virginia Beach, Va.
Equipping Session 1: “Incarnational Church Planting.” Led by Michael Carrion.
Equipping Session 2: “The Many Faces of Church Planting.” Led by Shawn Robinson, Founding Pastor of Clayton Community Church in Clayton, Calif., and Shane Sunn, Executive Director of the Aspen Grove Church Planting Network.
Equipping Session 3: “Why Church Planting Is Good for Every Church.” Led by Hunter Bailey, Regional Director of the EPC Church Planting Network’s South and Heartland regions, and Richard Rieves, Lead Pastor of Downtown Church in Memphis, Tenn.

Online registration with a cost of $295 per person runs until May 15. The registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. The $50 early registration discount ends on May 15, when the fee increases to $345 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

For more information and to register, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit offers Networking Lunches for connection, equipping

Networking Lunches at the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit provide opportunity for attendees to connect with others with similar ministry interests. Networking Lunches are held on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, June 20-22, from 12:00-12:50 p.m. at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo. For more information about each lunch, see www.epc.org/ga2023networkinglunches.

Tuesday, June 20

Apologetic Principles for Church Planting, hosted by Tommy Allen, Planting Pastor of EPC Spokane in Spokane, Wash., and Shane Sunn, Executive Director of the Aspen Grove Church Planting Network.
Building Retirement Savings and Tax-Exempt Housing Expense Withdrawal, hosted by Bart Francescone, Executive Director of EPC Benefit Resources, Inc.
Choosing to Plant a Multi-Ethnic Church, hosted by Sean Boone, Planting Pastor of Woke Bridge Community Church in Ferguson, Mo., and Marcos Ortega, Lead Pastor of Goodwill Church Beacon in Beacon, N.Y.
Disability Ministry Story & Support, hosted by Michelle Munger, author of Margins of Grace: Becoming Champions of Faith and Family in the Midst of Disability.
How to Revitalize Your Leadership Pipeline, hosted by Scott Manor, President of Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Liturgical Worship, the Regulative Principle, and Presbyterianism, hosted by Zac Hicks, Pastor of Church of the Cross in Birmingham, Ala.
Navigating the Letters (LGBTQ+) with a Family Member, hosted by Scott Kingry, Program Director of Where Grace Abounds.
World Outreach: Home from the Field, hosted by Shawn Stewart, Coordinator of Field Development and Co-op Support for EPC World Outreach.

Wednesday, June 21

An Introduction to Multi-Ethnic Church Planting, hosted by Michael Carrion, Vice President of Church Planting and Leadership Development for Redeemer City to City in New York, N.Y.
Come and Ask Your Church Health Questions, hosted by Bob Stauffer, EPC National Director of Church Health.
Executive Pastors and Church Administrators, hosted by Patrick Coelho, EPC Chief Financial Officer.
Female Pastors, Chaplains, and TE Candidates, hosted by Carolyn Poteet, Lead Pastor of Mt. Lebanon Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Meet Our Newly Commissioned Global Workers, hosted by Saul and Jesse Huber, Coordinators of Mobilization for EPC World Outreach.
Revelation 7:9: How to be a Community-Conscious Congregation, hosted by Rufus Smith, Senior Pastor of Hope Church in Cordova, Tenn.
Sharpening Parent Skills Amidst Today’s Adolescent Crisis, hosted by Bill Senyard, President of Gospel App Ministries.
Small Church Leadership: Developing the Body in its Call to Hope, hosted by Bill Crawford, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Thibodaux, La., and Suzanne Zampella, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, N.M., and First Presbyterian Church in Hagerman, N.M.
The Contemporary Significance of Westminster Divine Edward Reynolds (1599-1676), hosted by Jeff Jeremiah, EPC Stated Clerk Emeritus.
What Does Your Personal Well-Being Look Like?, hosted by Bart Francescone, Executive Director of EPC Benefit Resources, Inc.

Thursday, June 22

Building Retirement Savings and Tax-Exempt Housing Expense Withdrawal, hosted by Bart Francescone, Executive Director of EPC Benefit Resources, Inc.
Discerning and Engaging the Culture Through Film, hosted by Ritchey Cable, Pastor of Gashland Presbyterian Church in Kansas City.
Healthy Leadership Development in Church Planting, hosted by Cron Gibson, Executive Director of Hopewell Equipping & Counseling Ministry Center in Virginia Beach, Va.
ITEN Partnership and Training Ministries, hosted by Mike Kuhn, Director of the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) of EPC World Outreach.
Next Generation Missions, hosted by Saul and Jesse Huber, Coordinators of Mobilization for EPC World Outreach.
Pastoral Letter of Racial Lament and Hope, hosted by Gerrit Dawson, Co-chairman of the Interim Committee on Pastoral Letter of Racial Lament and Hope.
Pastors’ Wives Lunch, hosted by Ramona Spilman, Adult Ministries & Missions Pastor for Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
Reaching a Generation Like None Other, hosted by Jen Burkholder, Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Coalition for Christian Outreach.
Revival and Revivalism in American Presbyterianism, hosted by Don Fortson, Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, N.C.
The Awakening Power of a Great Question, hosted by Dave Meserve, Affiliate Coach in the Rocky Mountain Region for PastorServe.
The Power of Rest: Embracing Sabbaticals for Ministry Health, hosted by Roy Yanke, Executive Director for PIR Ministries.

For more information about the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, including online registration, schedule, and more, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

General Assembly/Gospel Priorities Summit registration open

Online registration for the 43rd General Assembly/Gospel Priorities Summit is now open. The Assembly meets June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo. The theme of this year’s annual meeting is “Sharpen,” based on Ephesians 4:12, “… to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ …”

The three-day gathering features plenary speakers each day and breakout sessions on Thursday, all focused on the EPC’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Health, Church Planting, Effective Biblical Leadership, and Global Movement.

“The EPC exists to carry out the Great Commission, and those four priorities are the way we do that,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “In the past, our Leadership Institute concluded on Wednesday. This year our equipping is interspersed with business across each day—that’s the ’Gospel Priorities Summit.’ Based on feedback from last year’s attendees, we will have more of a conference feel as opposed to primarily a business meeting with some equipping at the front.”

Plenary session topics include:

Church Planting on Tuesday morning, featuring Michael Carrion, Vice President of Church Planting and Leadership Development for Redeemer City to City in New York, N.Y. He will speak on “A Gospel- and Mission-Centric Movement” and “A Compelling Narrative and Hermeneutic for Evangelism.”
Global Movement on Tuesday afternoon with “Sharpening Our Focus on the 3 Billion” featuring John Love, Mary Ho, and Matthew Ellison. Love is an EPC Teaching Elder serving with EPC World Outreach and Pioneers; Ho is the International Executive Leader of All Nations International; and Ellison is the President of Sixteen:Fifteen.
Church Health on Wednesday morning, with sessions on “Celebrating Evangelism in EPC” with Jeff Moore, Bob Stauffer, Thomas D, and Mark V.; and “Love Thy Neighborhood” with Keon Abner, Founding Pastor of Bridge City Church in Cleveland, Ohio, and Marc de Jeu, Church Health Coordinator and Mission Mobilizer for the Presbytery of the Alleghenies. Moore serves as Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Ill.; Stauffer is the EPC’s National Director of Church Health; and D and V serve with EPC World Outreach.
Effective Biblical Leadership on Wednesday afternoon with EPC Assistant Stated Clerk Michael Davis discussing “What Is an Effective Biblical Leader?”

For complete information about the speakers and topics—as well as details on the Thursday breakout sessions—see www.epc.org/ga2023gospelprioritiessummit.

The first of five business sessions convenes on Tuesday afternoon, June 20, at 3:00 p.m. (Mountain).

Worship service speakers include:

Mark Farrell, Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Fla.
Shelley Kral, Associate Pastor of Longview EPC in Longview, Texas.
Rosemary Lukens, Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly.
Curt Taylor, Senior Pastor of host church Cherry Hills Community Church.
Aaron White, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in South Charleston, Ohio.

Other gatherings include a wide variety of Networking Lunches each day, as well as meetings specific to World Outreach, women’s ministry, ministry wives, and more.

Early registration runs until May 15, with a registration fee of $295 per person. New this year is that the registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. The $50 early registration discount ends on May 15, when the fee increases to $345 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

For complete information and to register, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

Three-day Gospel Priorities Summit highlights 43rd General Assembly

The EPC’s 43rd General Assembly/Gospel Priorities Summit in June will be a three-day event with plenary equipping sessions each day. Those are just two of many enhancements for the denomination’s annual business meeting this year. The theme of the Assembly is Sharpen, based on Ephesians 4:12, “… to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ …”

“We want to be good stewards of our commissioners’ time and resources, so we have shortened the gathering by a day,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “Also, the business we will address deserves having as many commissioners involved as possible. In previous years, much of our important business fell on Friday when many commissioners had already left. By adjourning on Thursday, people can travel on Friday as they normally would and not miss anything.”

Each day will have training and equipping sessions based on one of the EPC’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Planting, Church Health, Global Movement, and Effective Biblical Leadership.

“The EPC exists to carry out the Great Commission, and those four priorities are the way we do that,” Weaver noted. “In the past, these concluded by noon on Wednesday. So that’s the “Gospel Priorities Summit” part this year—equipping and business will be interspersed with business across each day. Based on feedback from last year’s attendees, GA will have more of a ‘conference’ feel as opposed to primarily a business meeting with some equipping at the front.”

Weaver noted that the plenary and worship service speakers this year are all EPC leaders.

“The feedback following last year’s Assembly asked us to utilize more of our own, so we are!” he said. “Our speakers represent churches of all sizes from all over the country.”

Online registration opens on April 1. Early registration runs until May 15, with a registration fee of $295 per person. New this year is that the registration fee includes lunch each day, while on-campus dinners Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are optional at a cost of $30 per person. The $50 early registration discount ends on May 15, when the fee increases to $345 per person. Late registration begins June 15 with a fee of $395 per person.

“The rising costs with inflation have proven to be a real challenge in planning this year’s meeting,” Weaver said. “While our registration fee is very competitive to similar gatherings of this kind, our staff continues to diligently seek ways to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.”

For more information, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

Pastoral Letter on Racial Lament and Hope interim committee begins work

The Interim Committee tasked with writing a Pastoral Letter on Racial Lament and Hope gathered September 20-21 to begin its work. The group met at the Office of the General Assembly in Orlando. The formation of the committee was approved by the 42nd General Assembly and appointed by that Assembly’s outgoing Moderator, Brad Strait.

The co-Chairmen of the committee are Gerrit Dawson, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, La., and Glenn Meyers, Commissioned Pastor of Ardara United Presbyterian Church in Ardara, Pa., and Moderator of the 40th General Assembly.

Glenn Meyers

“I appreciate the opportunity to serve in this way,” Meyers said. “God has been preparing me personally over the past few years to deal with these issues, and my experience as a Black man is part of the whole. Our pastors are on the front lines of this issue, and even some of my elders are asking me if we want to ‘poke the bear.’ It is a difficult time to be a Black man in America, and I have a new understanding of that.”

Gerrit Dawson

Dawson noted that the American church “has languished on this issue, which has allowed non-biblical groups to grab the narrative. How many of our pastors said this was the most divisive thing they talked about in 2020? I addressed it with our congregation, and after one sentence I was called both a white supremacist and a critical race theorist. It’s difficult—we are balancing the difficulty of being Black in America with the feeling of white people that they are looked at as the problem. But I am passionate that we have a better story to tell,” Dawson said.

“I can’t imagine two better individuals to shepherd this process,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “They bring different viewpoints, but their pastoral hearts will get us where need to go.”

In addition to Meyers and Dawson, members of the committee are Sean Boone, church planting pastor of Woke Bridge Community Church in Ferguson, Mo.; Ken Chang, Ruling Elder for Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, Colo.; Linda McDaniel, Ruling Elder for Hope Church in Cordova, Tenn.; Marcos Ortega, Lead Pastor for the Beacon, N.Y., campus of Goodwill Church; George Robertson, Senior Pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis; Annie Rose, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes; Eric Shipton, Assistant Pastor and Director of Outreach and Missions for Reynolda Church in Winston-Salem, N.C.; and Carol Williams, Ruling Elder for Covenant Presbyterian Church in Sharon, Pa.

Ex officio members are Weaver; Michael Davis, Assistant Stated Clerk; Brad Strait, Senior Pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood, Colo., and Chairman of the National Leadership Team; Rosemary Lukens, Ruling Elder for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash., and Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly; and Joe Kim, church planting pastor of Hope Philly Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pa., and Moderator-elect of the 43rd General Assembly.

43rd General Assembly planning underway

Leaders of the EPC Office of the General Assembly and Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo., met at Cherry Hills on September 6 to begin planning for the denomination’s 43rd General Assembly. The suburban Denver church will host the annual meeting June 20-23, 2023.

The theme of the 43rd Assembly is “Sharpen” based on Ephesians 4:12, “… to equip the saints for building up the body of Christ, ….” For more information, see www.epc.org/ga2023.

42nd General Assembly recordings available

Video recordings of the 42nd General Assembly are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/ga2022recordings. Included are the Leadership Institute plenary sessions, Church Health Workshop, worship service messages, select committee verbal reports, the nomination and election of Moderator Rosemary Lukens, and the nomination and election of Moderator-elect Joe Kim.

The videos feature Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Ill.; Sandy Willson, Pastor Emeritus of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis, Tenn.; Andrew Brunson, Founder of WaveStarters in Reston, Va.; Brad Strait, Senior Pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Englewood Colo.; Ed Stetzer, Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College; Jimmy Scroggins, Lead Pastor of Family Church in West Palm Beach, Fla.; Todd Thomas, Campus Pastor of Family Church Sherbrooke in Lake Worth, Fla.; Julie Hawkins, Pastor of Next Steps at Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash.; Scott McKee, Senior Pastor of Ward Church in Northville, Mich.; Terence Gray, Assistant Pastor of Ward Church; Marcelo Robles, Senior Pastor of La Misión Church in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and more.

In addition, audio recordings of the Leadership Institute seminars “Trafficking in Our Backyard” and five lectures on historical theology from the Westminster Society are available, as well as audio recordings of select Networking Lunches. These also are available in podcast form on the EPC’s podcast channel at www.podcast.epc.org as well as Spotify and iTunes—search for “Evangelical Presbyterian Church.”

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Sesay presents 3 Circles evangelism tool in Sierra Leone, West Africa

After returning to Sierra Leone from the 42nd General Assembly in June, Samuel Sesay presented the 3 Circles personal evangelism tool to the congregation at Grace Community Church in Freetown. Sesay is a Missionary Evangelist in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone and also currently serves as President of EduNations, Inc.

Among the items of business approved by the Assembly was for the EPC to enter into a formal fraternal relationship with the EPC of Sierra Leone. The 3 Circles is the recommended evangelism tool of the EPC’s Church Health Team. For more information, see www.epc.org/evangelism.

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42nd General Assembly sings God’s faithfulness

The “Singing Moderator” of the 40th General Assembly, Glenn Meyers, leads the 42nd General Assembly in the great hymn of the faith, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” during the final business session on June 24, 2022. Meyers serves as Commissioned Pastor of Ardara Presbyterian Church in Ardara, Pa. The 42nd General Assembly was held June 21-24 at Ward Church in Northville, Mich.

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“In All Things” podcast provides 42nd General Assembly update from Dean Weaver

Episode 31 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things,” features Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. This week, Weaver explains the purpose behind and activities at the 42nd General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Episodes are available on a variety of podcast platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podbean, Spotify, and others. Search “In All Things” on any of these services.

The audio recordings also are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/inallthings.

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42nd General Assembly worship service message: Terence Gray

In the Thursday morning worship service on June 23 at the 42nd General Assembly, Terence Gray preached from John 13:1-17. Gray serves as Assistant Pastor at Ward Church in Northville, Mich.

Gray noted that in the book Leaders Eat Last, a U.S. Marine officer explained that what made the Marines different was that its “leaders ate last.” As a result of this modelling of servant leadership, a Marine can trust that his or her officer puts the needs of the soldier first.

“We live in a celebrity culture; a day when we want to get followers,” Gray said. “But we see in John 13 that Jesus loved these people. He washed their feet. And He loves you, too.”

Gray challenged the Assembly, “So when we are asked, ‘What makes the EPC different?’ We want to able to say—we ought to be able to say—’We wash each other’s feet.”

A recording of Gray’s message will be available on the EPC website soon.

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Rosemary Lukens elected Moderator of 42nd General Assembly

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Praying over Rosemary Lukens (second from left) following her installation as Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly are (from left) Mark Toone, Senior Pastor of Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church (CHPC) in Gig Harbor, Wash.; Rachel White, Pastor of Life Groups and Alpha at CHPC; and Megan Hackman, Church Planting Pastor of Kitsap House in Port Orchard, Wash.

Rosemary Lukens, Ruling Elder for Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor, Wash., was elected Moderator of the EPC’s 42nd General Assembly on June 22.

In her opening remarks, Lukens told the Assembly that the EPC “does not just have a mission—we are on mission: to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus as Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical and Missional.”

“We say we aspire to be a Revelation 7:9 denomination,” she said. “The time for aspiration is gone. Now is the time to live Revelation 7:9. If we truly are Reformed—truly are Evangelical—then how is that showing up in our churches, our Presbyteries, and our own personal lives? If you are not on Jesus’ mission, then you are robbing Him of His inheritance. Live out your calling as Evangelical—be evangelistic—by reaching your sphere of influence with the good news that saved your life and soul.”

Lukens reminded the Assembly that American culture has changed to the point that “being a Christian is no longer acceptable. We are aliens, strangers to the values and culture in which we live.”

Yet she emphasized that “our beliefs do not change with the culture. What we believe in Jesus never changes, just as He never changes.”

Lukens is a Registered Nurse by training and holds a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from the University of Puget Sound and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavioral Science with a specialty in Coaching and Consulting in Organizations from Bastyr University’s Leadership Institute of Seattle. She holds certifications in the Conflict Dynamics Profile from the Center for Dynamics; Crucial Conversations from VitalSmarts, Inc.; The Harrison Assessment (Levels I & II) from Harrison Assessments International; the DISC Index from Innermetrix, Inc.; Benchmarks 360 from the Center for Creative Leadership; Coaching for Development from the Center for Creative Leadership; the Kolb Learning Style Inventory from the Hay Group; and the Mayer, Salovey, Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT) from Multi-Health Systems, Inc.

An Executive Coach with extensive leadership development experience in health care and nonprofit organizations, Lukens has helped a diverse array of physicians, executive leaders, managers, and their staff members with relationships, strategy, and goal setting. She also has assisted such non-profit organizations as hospitals, physician groups, city governments, universities, and churches adopt practices and build cultures that appreciate and embrace change, improve performance, and optimize talent. Her areas of professional expertise include coaching and consulting with individual developmental planning; conflict reconciliation; leadership development for teams and individuals; program and curriculum development; and workshop, meeting, and classroom facilitation.

In addition to being a Ruling Elder, she serves CHPC as a certified Spiritual Director, Lay Counselor, and Leadership Coach/Consultant. She is a member of the EPC’s National Leadership Team (NLT) and was a member of the Stated Clerk Search Committee. She also serves as a volunteer board member with VitalChurch Ministries.

She is married to David Lukens, DO, and they have 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 “adopted” grandchildren.

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Live stream webcast available for 42nd General Assembly worship, business sessions

The 42nd General Assembly worship services, business sessions, and Leadership Institute plenary sessions are available via live stream online at www.epc.org/ga2022livestream and in the GA mobile app.

The Assembly is at Ward Church in Northville, Mich., June 21-24.

Note that the global worker commissioning portion of the Thursday evening worship service will not be broadcast due to security concerns.

Following the Assembly, recordings of the Leadership Institute plenary sessions, worship services, and select networking lunches and other Leadership Institute seminars will be available.

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