Podcasting as evangelism the topic of “In All Things” podcast episode 87 with Brandon Queen

 

Brandon Queen, Ruling Elder for First Presbyterian Church in Thibodaux, La., and host of the podcast “E.A.R.: Evangelical and Reformed” is the guest for episode 87 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.”

Host Dean Weaver and Queen discuss his involvement in the EPC’s Westminster Society, how he launched his podcast as a tool for evangelism, as well as his desire to use the podcast as a means of racial reconciliation.

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.

June 2023 EPC financial report: POI contributions conclude year above FY22

 

At the June 30 close of the EPC’s fiscal year, contributions to Percentage of Income (POI) and Per Member Asking (PMA) received by the Office of the General Assembly totaled $2,411,985. The amount is $120,983 more than that total received in FY22 and only $39,879 (1.6 percent) less than the FY23 General Assembly operating budget of $2,451,864.

In addition, total fiscal year operating expenses were $16,350 under budget.

“I am beyond thankful that our churches supported the EPC so generously the past year,” said Stated Clerk Dean Weaver. “Because of their faithfulness and the careful stewardship of our staff at the Office of the General Assembly, we can look a future of expanding the impact of our Gospel Priorities and serving our churches and leaders in numerous other ways.”

Of the $2,411,985 received, $482,387 (20 percent) was contributed to EPC World Outreach.

In addition to PMA contributions, the Office of the General Assembly received $6,328,271 in designated gifts in FY23. This total was $458,590 (22.8 percent) less than the $6,786,861 in designated gifts received in FY22. Designated gifts include support for World Outreach global workers and projects, and contributions to EPC Special Projects such as Emergency Relief, church planting and revitalization initiatives, and the EPC’s holiday offerings.

Of the total, $6,013,671 was designated for World Outreach workers and projects, and $314,600 was designated for EPC projects. These amounts only reflect gifts received and distributed by the Office of the General Assembly, and do not reflect donations given directly to WO global workers or other projects.

Commissioners to the denomination’s 42nd General Assembly in June 2022 approved a transition from the Per Member Asking (PMA) funding formula to a Percentage of Income (POI) model. Under PMA, churches were asked to contribute $23 per member to the Office of the General Assembly. The POI model is a request for churches to support the national level of the EPC with 1 percent of income to the church’s general operating fund. The shift will phase in over the next three years, with full POI implementation expected at the start of FY26 in July 2025.

43rd General Assembly approves Disaster Relief Committee, Book of Government amendments, review of ordination process

 

Commissioners to the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly approved the formation of a permanent Disaster Relief Committee 48 hours before a tornado tore through the area, disrupting the Assembly, uprooting trees and inflicting other damage, but causing no injuries. As tornado warning alarms went off throughout the Sanctuary of Assembly host Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo., Stated Clerk Dean Weaver called the Thursday afternoon business session meeting into recess. Within a few minutes, attendees were sheltering and singing “Holy, Holy, Holy” and other favorite hymns in the church basement, inner hallways, and restrooms.

Following a pause of nearly an hour, Commissioners reconvened and proceeded with Assembly business.

While many present began dubbing the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit as “the tornado Assembly,” much more transpired over the three-day gathering.

Numerous equipping sessions each day focused on the EPC’s four Gospel Priorities of Church Health (led by Bob Stauffer, EPC National Director of Church Health); Church Planting (led by Tom Ricks, National Director of Church Planting); Effective Biblical Leadership (led by Michael Davis, Assistant Stated Clerk); and Global Movement (led by Gabriel de Guia, Executive Director of EPC World Outreach).

In denominational business, Commissioners voted to approve more than 20 recommendations from the EPC’s permanent committees and boards.

Commissioners also elected Joe Kim as Moderator and Victor Jones as Moderator-Elect. Kim serves as Pastor of Hope Philly, an EPC church plant in Philadelphia, Pa., in the Presbytery of the East. Jones is a Ruling Elder for Westminster Presbyterian Church in Laurel, Miss., in the Presbytery of the Gulf South.

Joe Kim continued the tradition of “singing Moderators” by leading the Assembly in his original children’s song, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (photo credit: Scott Wiest)

Nearly 750 individuals registered for the Assembly, including 417 Teaching Elders and 330 Ruling Elders who submitted voting credentials.

Book of Government

In matters related to the EPC Book of Government, Commissioners approved a recommendation to delete section 17-5 (Treasurer as an Officer of the Board of Deacons) and correspondingly amend sections 6-8D and 18-3H.

Bob Garment, EPC Chief Parliamentarian, told the Assembly that 17-5 “suggests in that section on Deacons that there is a required annual audit for every church in the EPC.”

He emphasized that the EPC is an accredited member of the Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability, and as such “we want to be transparent and good stewards and make sure our finances are in order. But in fact, we’ve never required an audit. And it strengthens the statement on the responsibility of the Session for all the financial planning and oversight in the local church.”

Commissioners also approved an amendment to the Book of Discipline, adding to the definition of church discipline in section 1-1 the statement, “Church discipline does not supersede or negate the legal responsibility to report cases of suspected abuse to civil authorities according to local and state requirements.”

Bob Garment, EPC Chief Parliamentarian, explains the rationale behind amending the Book of Government, section 17-5. (photo credit: Scott Wiest)

Annie Rose, Stated Clerk of the Rivers and Lakes, said the amendment is an effort to codify existing practice in the EPC “and to say that as we go through our discipline process as a Church, we also comply with our obligations to report to civil authorities.”

Committees and Study Groups

In addition to the formation of the Disaster Relief Committee, study groups were approved to review the EPC’s Position Paper on Domestic Abuse, Book of Discipline, and ordination process.

Brad Strait, Chairman of the National Leadership Team, said the review of the Position Paper on Domestic Abuse was to ensure the language was up to date.

“Some of the things that seemed to be very cutting edge when we wrote them 15 years ago could always stand to be reevaluated,” he said.

Regarding the Book of Discipline, creation of a Moderator-appointed task force was approved to “complete a thorough review of our Book of Discipline and associated Forms and consult with experts inside and outside of the EPC as needed and present recommendations to the 44th General Assembly.”

“Hopefully any other exposure we might have as a denomination will be addressed in that full review process,” said Mark Eshoff, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest.

Jerry Iamurri, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Ministerial Vocation, said the creation of an interim committee to review the EPC’s ordination standards and process occurs approximately every 10 years.

“It’s just making sure that our ordination requirements are consistent with the ethos of the EPC and consistent with what the seminaries are doing today,” Iamurri said. “We are going to make sure those things are in alignment by revisiting them as we normally do every decade or so.”

Ecumenical Matters

Commissioners voted to enter into a fraternal relationship with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

Alan Trafford, Chairman of the permanent Fraternal Relations Committee, said the recommendation is in response to the 37th General Assembly asking the committee to explore the possibility.

“This means that we recognize our colleagues in ECO as co-laborers in the Reformed corner of the vineyard,” he noted, “But it also means that we recognize the value of some of the cooperative efforts that have already begun, for example in the training of Transitional Pastors, Church Planting assessments, evangelism training, and providing resources for smaller congregations.”

As part of the Fraternal Relations Committee report to the Assembly, attendees prayed for fraternal guests (from left) Guillermo Mac Kenzie from the St. Andrews Presbytery of Argentina and Samuel Sesay from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone. (photo credit: Scott Wiest)

Trafford added that the opportunities for collaborative ministry and Great Commission mission “are endless in such a relationship.”

Commissioners also approved the EPC’s withdrawal from the World Communion of Reformed Churches. The motion was in response to the 42nd General Assembly’s approval for the permanent Theology Committee to study the EPC’s membership in the ecumenical organization.

Weaver said discussion of leaving the WCRC has been going “for a very long time … it goes back to the 90s. Its theological beliefs, its political beliefs—almost every belief—are not in alignment with the beliefs of the EPC.”

Weaver explained that membership in the WCRC provided an ecumenical bridge for congregations joining the EPC from the mainline denomination that had reversion clauses in their departure agreements.

“As those reversion clauses have since expired, there is no compelling reason for us to stay in the WCRC,” he said.

Weaver added that the EPC enjoys “a very deep level of involvement in the World Reformed Fellowship. It is a very good, biblical, Reformed, global body that we are contributing to and gaining from.”

Budget and Special Projects

Commissioners approved a Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24—July 2023 through June 2024) budget for EPC operating expenses of $3,507,727. This represents a 5.5 percent increase in projected spending over the FY23 budget.

Mike Moses, Lead Pastor of the Lake Forest family of churches in suburban Charlotte, N.C., co-led the Gospel Priorities Summit plenary session on Church Planting. (photo credit: Scott Wiest)

The FY24 budget includes $366,722 in direct funding of the four Gospel Priorities—$112,823 for Church Planting; $74,000 for Church Health; $35,349 for Global Movement; and $144,550 for Effective Biblical Leadership. In addition, 20 percent of contribution to the Office of the General Assembly though Percentage of Income (POI) support Global Movement in the form of funding the overall ministry of World Outreach. This is projected to be $496,890 through June 30, 2024.

The Assembly also approved a variety of Special Projects for FY24, which are ministry initiatives not supported by POI but to which soliciting contributions is approved.

In other administration-related business, Commissioners approved a recommendation that ordained ministers drawing retirement income from the EPC 403(b)(9) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan be allowed to designate up to 100 percent of their retirement income for housing allowance.

Bart Francescone, Executive Director of EPC Benefit Resources, Inc., said the annual action provides retired ministers with a readily available reference if asked by tax authorities.

Committee and Board Members

In addition to electing Kim as Moderator and Jones as Moderator-elect, the Assembly elected the following individuals to fill vacancies on the EPC’s permanent committees and boards as others complete their terms of service (TE denotes Teaching Elder. RE denotes Ruling Elder. * denotes second term.):

Benefit Resources, Inc., Board of Directors: RE Michael Busch, Presbytery of the Alleghenies; RE Bill Overcast, Presbytery of the Central South; Cathy Scott, Presbytery of the East. Busch was elected as Chairman.

Chaplains Work and Care Committee: RE Bruce Alexander, Presbytery of the New River; RE Kendra Bowers, Presbytery of the Central South; TE Marty Carpenter*, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest; TE Scott Kennaugh, Presbytery of the Midwest; TE David Snyder, Presbytery of the Midwest.

Disaster Relief Committee: TE Whitney Alexander, Presbytery of the Gulf South; TE Bill Crawford, Presbytery of the Gulf South; Paul Gorny, At-Large; Toni Harris, At-Large; TE Cliff Mansley, Presbytery of the West; RE Hans Othmer, Presbytery of the Gulf South; Nancy Prott, At-Large; RE Dave Shanklin, Presbytery of the Central South; RE Jim Winter, Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean.

Fraternal Relations Committee: TE David Galbraith*, Presbytery of the Midwest; RE Holly Lazzero, Presbytery of the East; Roger Rumer, Presbytery of the Alleghenies; RE Josh Shelley; Presbytery of the Central South; TE Stan Van Den Berg*, Presbytery of the Great Plains.

Ministerial Vocation Committee: RE Richard Gash*, Presbytery of the Alleghenies; TE Doug Resler*, Presbytery of the West; TE Scott Sealy, Presbytery of the Central South.

National Leadership Team: TE Greg Aydt, Presbytery of the West; RE Chris Danusiar, Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes; TE Julie Hawkins, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest; RE Joi Williams, Presbytery of the Coastal Mid-Atlantic.

Next Generation Ministries Council: Geraud Bumfield, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest; TE Dan Kish, Presbytery of the Central South; Faith Reid*, Presbytery of the Central South; TE Joseph Stroup*, Presbytery of the Alleghenies; TE SirGregory Thornton, Presbytery of the Central South.

Nominating Committee: RE Mike Goolsby, Presbytery of the Great Plains; RE Kelli Marks, Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes; TE Juan Rivera*, Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean; TE Bob Vincent*, Presbytery of the Gulf South; TE S.J. Winter, Presbytery of the Midwest.

Permanent Judicial Commission: RE Jeff Hollingsworth*, Presbytery of the Southeast; TE Zach Hopkins, Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes; TE Barton Kimbro, Presbytery of the Central South; TE Ed McCallum, Presbytery of the West; RE Tom Werner, Presbytery of Mid-America.

Presbytery Review Committee: RE Ron Bengelink*, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest; Jim Connors*, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest; TE Jason Steele*, Presbytery of the Midwest.

Theology Committee: RE David Buschart, Presbytery of the West; TE Luke Johnston, Presbytery of the Great Plains.

World Outreach Committee: TE Whitney Alexander*, Presbytery of the Gulf South; TE Waring Porter*, Presbytery of the Central South.

Other Business Items

A T-shirt commemorating the “Tornado Assembly” is available in a variety of colors in the EPC Merchandise Store, www.epc.org/merchandise.

Commissioners also approved a variety of other business items:

  • Adopting the Minutes of the 42nd General Assembly.
  • Approving exceptions requiring a response as found in the 2022 Minutes of 14 of the 16 Presbyteries (Presbytery of the New River and Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes had no exceptions requiring response).
  • Approving the responses from the Presbyteries to exceptions issued by the 42nd General Assembly.
  • Accepting the invitation from Hope Church in Cordova, Tenn., to host the 44th General Assembly in June 2024.

In closing the Assembly, Weaver quipped to Commissioners that they “would be pleased to know that the work of this General Assembly is already at play—you approved earlier a permanent committee on Disaster Relief.”

“This has been a General Assembly I will never forget,” Weaver said. “But what I’ll never forget about it is the amazing way the Cherry Hills staff and volunteers served us. The way you went into the basement and started singing ‘Holy, holy, holy.’ That you were passing out water bottles to each other, the way you were loving one another. Because that’s what family does. And in my view, the EPC is not a denomination; the EPC is a family. And you have demonstrated that.”

The Cherry Hills Community Church staff and volunteers earned a well-deserved ovation at the conclusion of the Assembly. (photo credit: Scott Wiest)

#epc2023ga

Ministry to abused and trafficked women the topic of “In All Things” podcast episode 86 with Bonnie Gatchell

 

Bonnie Gatchell, Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of the East and Executive Director of Route One Ministry in Boston, Mass., is the guest for episode 86 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” The mission of Route One Ministry is to serve sexually exploited and trafficked women by entering strip clubs and building relationships with the women who work in the clubs, as well as equipping the local church and community leaders with the tools they need to understand trafficking, identify vulnerable people, and respond in the most healthy ways to those who have experienced sexual abuse.

Host Dean Weaver and Gatchell discuss how God led her to begin a ministry to strip club dancers in Boston, and Route One Ministry’s efforts to train church leaders on how to minister to victims of trafficking, trauma, and abuse.

Gatchell also describes the qualities of a “safe church” and some of the resources on trauma and abuse that Route One Ministry provides.

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.

2023 Pastor-Spouse Retreat registration now open

 

Registration is now open for the 2023 EPC Pastor-Spouse Retreat, October 23-27 at Glen Eyrie Castle & Conference Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Annie Rose

“Study after study the past few years reveal the same thing: that pastors are feeling the wear and tear of ministry like never before,” said Annie Rose, EPC Director of Ministerial Support and Development. “Our goal for this retreat is to provide time and space for our pastors and their spouses to rest, connect, and be encouraged by the Lord.”

Facilitators are Wade Brown, Jeannie Martin, and Dave Meserve from the EPC’s ministry partner, PastorServe. The three will lead large-group discussions each morning and provide free coaching sessions each afternoon.

“Unless you sign up for one of the free coaching and care sessions, the afternoons are completely open with no scheduled activities,” Rose said. “My prayer is that our church leaders will understand the value of renewal for their pastor and his or her spouse and bless them by helping them attend the retreat.”

The cost for the retreat is $550 per person ($1,100 per couple) and includes accommodations for four nights and 11 meals in the Glen Eyrie Castle Dining Room. For more information and to register, see www.epc.org/2023pastorspouseretreat.

Stephen Morefield, historical fiction author and Kansas pastor, author the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 85

 

Stephen Morefield is the guest for episode 85 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” He serves as Pastor of Christ Covenant Church in Leoti, Kan., and is the author of But the Blood: A Novel Based on the True Story of America’s Bloodiest County Seat Battle.

Host Dean Weaver and Morefield discuss his spiritual path as a covenant child of the EPC to urban church planting to rural church ministry. Morefield also describes some of the joys and challenges of serving as an introverted solo pastor in a rural setting, how “falling in love with the community” is essential to rural outreach, and how writing the historical novel based on events in the town in the 1880s has built bridges for ministry in the community.

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.

Don Fortson, noted Presbyterian historian and author, the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 84

 

Don Fortson is the guest for episode 84 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” Fortson serves as Professor of Church History and Pastoral Theology at the Charlotte, N.C., campus of Reformed Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books on Presbyterian history, including Reformed and Evangelical Across Four Centuries: The Presbyterian Story in America and Liberty in Non-Essentials: The Story of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Host Dean Weaver and Fortson discuss how his most recent book, Reformed and Evangelical, fills a need for a comprehensive, current Presbyterian history, as well as how it traces the symbiotic relationship between Presbyterians and evangelicals. In addition, Fortson describes Presbyterian heritage of evangelistic renewal, and how the EPC may be uniquely positioned to respond to revivals such as what occurred in early 2023 at Asbury University in Kentucky.

Fortson also describes how gifts of the Spirit and the ordination of women are examples of how the EPC lives out its motto of “In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All Things, Charity.”

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.

‘Tornado General Assembly’ recap the topic of “In All Things” podcast episode 83

 

In episode 83 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things,” Dean Weaver and Michael Davis provide a summary recap of the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, held June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

The EPC’s Stated Clerk and Assistant Stated Clerk, respectively, reflect on the worship services, business items, and equipping opportunities provided to Commissioners and guests at the Assembly. They also discuss how attendees and the host church staff responded to the tornado that struck during the Thursday afternoon business session.

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.

#epc2023ga

Recordings of 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit now available

 

Video recordings of the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit are available on the EPC website at www.epc.org/ga2023recordings. Included are the Gospel Priority plenary sessions, worship service messages, Thursday Gospel Priorities Dinner, select committee verbal reports, fraternal delegate greetings, and more.

The videos feature Shelley Kral, Associate Pastor of Longview EPC in Longview, Texas; Mike Kuhn, Director of the International Theological Education Network of EPC World Outreach; Aaron White, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston, Ohio; Mark Farrell, Pastor of Tampa Covenant Church in Tampa, Fla; Rosemary Lukens, Moderator of the 42nd General Assembly; Curt Taylor, Senior Pastor of Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.; Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk; Michael David, EPC Assistant Stated Clerk; Tom Ricks, EPC National Director of Church Planting; Bob Stauffer, EPC National Director of Church Health; Matthew Ellison, President of Sixteen:Fifteen; Mary Ho, International Executive Leader of All Nations International; and more.

In addition, audio recordings are available of the Thursday morning Gospel Priorities equipping sessions on church health, church planting effective biblical leadership, and global movement, as well as 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.”

#epc2023ga

Tornado disrupts General Assembly

 

Songs of praise filled the basement of Cherry Hills Community Church as a tornado warning in Highlands Ranch, Colo., forced General Assembly attendees to leave the Sanctuary during the Thursday afternoon business session. A large tornado struck the area surrounding the church causing significant damage. The Cherry Hills campus suffered damage but no known injuries among General Assembly attendees or CHCC staff.

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General Assembly attendees receive royal welcome

 

The greeter team of Cherry Hills Community Church provided an enthusiastic welcome to attendees of the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit as they enter the building on Wednesday, June 21. Jerry Iamurri and Mike DeHaven from the Presbytery of the East particularly enjoy the rock-star treatment provide by the General Assembly host church staff and volunteers.

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Joe Kim elected Moderator of 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

 

Jerry Iamurri (right) former EPC Assistant Stated Clerk, prays for freshly installed 43rd General Assembly Moderator Joe Kim as previous Moderators and Stated Clerks lay on hands.

Joe Kim, Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of the East, was elected Moderator of the EPC’s 43rd General Assembly on June 20. Kim serves as planting pastor of Hope Philly in Pennsylvania, which consists of two micro-churches in the Philadelphia area with a third launching soon.

In his opening remarks, Kim told the Assembly that the EPC “has been a haven from a world that more and more no longer tolerates difference or disagreement; where suspicion and even outrage is way too normal.”

Yet he emphasized that the EPC “does things differently.”

“Beyond the essentials, we often all don’t agree,” Kim said. “But even so, there remains in every single one of us a persistent conviction to view those we disagree with as co-laborers in the gospel; brothers and sisters to whom we resolve to extend the right hand of fellowship.”

Kim described how Hope Philly defines grace as the place “where blessing and benefits normally reserved for friends and family are given to strangers and even enemies in hope that those strangers and enemies become themselves friends and family.”

“When we come here,” Kim concluded, “we are amongst family—a family bound together not because of race, or politics, or social orientation, but by the gospel and the gracious hospitality it drives us to extend.”

Kim was ordained as a Teaching Elder in the EPC in 2015. Prior to planting Hope Philly, he served as the English Ministry pastor of Korean churches in New Jersey and New York. He also has served as a children’s ministry director, choir director, and youth group director.

Kim studied Music at Temple University in Philadelphia and later finished his degree at Toccoa Falls College in Toccoa, Ga. He came to faith in 1995 and received a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., in 2005. He is a regular contributor to Reformed Margins, a blogsite that provides a platform for Reformed Christian thinkers from various ethnic minority backgrounds to join in the broader Reformed and Evangelical conversations.

Kim has served on various committees in the EPC, including the Ministerial Committee for the Presbytery of the East, the General Assembly’s Ministerial Vocation Committee (MVC), and the Revelation 7:9 Task Force.

He and his wife, Emii, have two daughters. He enjoys reading, guitars, theology, all Philadelphia sports teams, and spending time with his family.

#epc2023ga

Check-in desk ready for 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

 

The check-in desk is ready and earnestly awaiting Commissioners to the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

Office of the General Assembly staff (from right) Cathy Flores, Marti Ratcliff, and Rachel Joseph are joined by a host of Cherry Hills volunteers to assist commissioners with their registration packets.

Assembly equipping plenaries, worship services, and business sessions are available via live stream at www.epc.org/ga2023livestream. More information on the 43rd General Assembly, including a complete schedule of activities, is available at www.epc.org/ga2023.

#epc2023ga

May 2023 EPC financial report: POI support continues strong

 

Contributions to Percentage of Income (POI) and Per Member Asking (PMA) received by the Office of the General Assembly in fiscal year 2023 (FY23) through May 31 total $2,211,919. May POI/PMA support was $143,725.

With one month left in the fiscal year, the total is only $3,275 less than the $2,215,194 FY23 support projection to fund the EPC’s overall mission, vision, and Gospel Priorities of church health, church planting, effective biblical leadership, and global movement. FY23 contributions continue to outpace the FY22 year-to-date total of $2,072,726 by $139,193 (6.7 percent). The 12-month rolling average of POI/PMA contributions is $212,516—6.3 percent above the rolling average as of May 3, 2022.

“I say it every month: I am so grateful for the trust and generosity of our churches to support POI so faithfully,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “I am also very thankful for the excellent stewardship of our staff at the Office of the General Assembly. Our total operating expenses are more $5,300 under budget through May 31.”

Of the $2,211,919 received, $442,384 (20 percent) was contributed to EPC World Outreach.

In addition to PMA/POI contributions, $5,750,437 in designated gifts were received through May 31. This total is $515,883 (8.2 percent) lower than the $6,266,320 in designated gifts received in the same period in FY22. The entire difference is attributed to significant donations in 2022 to the Domestic Emergency Relief Fund in response to Hurricane Ida and the International Disaster Relief Fund in response to the Ukraine crisis.

Of the total, $5,445,476 was designated for World Outreach workers and projects, and $304,962 was designated for EPC projects. These amounts only reflect gifts received and distributed by the Office of the General Assembly, and do not reflect donations given directly to WO global workers or other projects.

Designated gifts include support for World Outreach global workers and projects, and contributions to EPC Special Projects such as Emergency Relief, church planting and revitalization initiatives, and the EPC’s Thanksgiving and Christmas offerings.

Commissioners to the denomination’s 42nd General Assembly in June 2022 approved a transition from the Per Member Asking (PMA) funding formula to a Percentage of Income (POI) model. Under PMA, churches were asked to contribute $23 per member to the Office of the General Assembly. The POI model is a request for churches to support the national level of the EPC with 1 percent of income to the church’s general operating fund. The shift will phase in over the next three years, with full POI implementation expected at the start of FY26 in July 2025.

Updated mobile app available for 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit

 

The EPC’s mobile app, updated with information and content for the 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit, is now available for Apple iOS and Android operating systems.

The app includes a wide variety of information, including daily schedules, all Assembly documents including the Commissioner’s Handbook of action items and other information, permanent and interim committee reports, standing committee assignments and meeting details, and more. Users can donate to the worship service offerings and sign up for free coaching sessions provided by EPC partner ministries PIR Ministries and PastorServe.

The app also offers one-touch access to EPConnection—the EPC’s news and information service—and the denomination’s Facebook and Twitter feeds.

Previous users of the iOS version will need to update to version 1.7 for the most current content (look for the EPC GA app under the “Updates” tab of the App Store). New users can search for “EPC GA” in the iOS App Store or the GooglePlay app on an Android device.

The app was developed by the EPC Communications Department.

The 43rd General Assembly / Gospel Priorities Summit is June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo.

#epc2023ga

Mike Kuhn, International Theological Education Network Director the guest for “In All Things” podcast episode 82

 

Mike Kuhn

Mike Kuhn, Director of the International Theological Education Network (ITEN) of EPC World Outreach is the guest for episode 82 of the EPC’s podcast, “In All Things.” Kuhn is the preacher for the Tuesday evening 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 Kuhn discuss how his spiritual heritage of a missions passion growing up in North Carolina led to several decades serving in Morocco and Egypt among Muslim-background believers, as well as in Jordan during the Syrian refugee crisis.

Kuhn describes how his experience in the Middle East illustrated the biblical definition of hospitality as “loving the other,” as well as how ITEN trains Christian leaders among least-reached peoples.

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.

EPC Merchandise Store launches with branded items to enhance ‘engaged together’ vision

 

Display your connection to the EPC with polo shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, T-shirts, socks, coffee mugs, sports bottles, bumper stickers, mousepads, golf balls, and more at the EPC’s Merchandise Store.

EPC Merchandise debuts on June 15 at www.epc.org/merchandise. Dozens of items are available, and clothing items come in a variety of colors and styles, all EPC-branded. In addition, each shirt is available in numerous creative designs based on the EPC’s motto of “In Essentials, Unity … In Non-Essentials, Liberty … In All Things, Charity.”

“I am excited about this new way to spread the word about the EPC,” said Dean Weaver, EPC Stated Clerk. “I have been asked many times if we had any way for our pastors and others to promote their connection to the EPC with branded gear. Well, now they can!”

Commissioners to the 43rd General Assembly, June 20-22 at Cherry Hills Community Church in Highlands Ranch, Colo., will be able to see product samples in the exhibitor area of the Cherry Hills Main Lobby.

To browse the store and purchase items, go to www.epc.org/merchandise.

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

#epc2023ga

#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.