EPC GA 2024

I’m writing this from Memphis having just finished the EPC’s 44th General Assembly. I know that many of you have been praying this week, so thank you! There were several hard questions being addressed, but I think we came out with some good solutions. Here are a couple of highlights:

The Assembly adopted the Pastoral Letter on Racial Lament and Hope. If you would like to read it, I can get you a copy. After the presbyteries met in the spring and concerns were raised about the letter, the committee made major revisions, in my opinion, for the good. It’s also worth noting that a Pastoral Letter is an internal document intended to help churches navigate various issues. This letter is NOT the official position of the EPC, and it is NOT binding in any way. It is also only made available to EPC members, not the general public.
The Standing Committee on Ministeral Vocation was able to knit together several overtures regarding human sexuality into one recommendation that was received by the Assembly. The various questions about this issue will be taken up by an Ad-Interim Committee for two years, and they will come back with their recommendations at the 46th GA in 2026. During that time, the GA has asked that no Session or Presbytery take on any actions that touch on this issue. To be clear, the EPC is opposed to homosexuality and all other forms of sexual perversion. We have a position paper on that if you’d like to read it. The question before the committee, then, is how to apply the Bible’s teaching on sexuality to ordination. One way to think about it: we’ve already drawn a line on this, but we’re simply trying to determine whether we want a chain-link or barbed-wire fence on that line.

If you have any questions about these two things or anything else, I’d be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.

Tomorrow, I’ll be preaching at Highland Heights Presbyterian Church, so I appreciate your prayers both for me and the congregation here as well for Jonathan as he preaches for you tomorrow.

Finally, for your enjoyment, here’s a brief clip of clip of the Wednesday psalm-singing event hosted by Pastor Bryan Rhodes from Alexandria, LA. Do you recognize this psalm?

Your friend in Christ,
Reid