Dual Presbytery Membership

Signal Mountain Presbyterian Church [Signal Mountain, TN] is the only congregation with Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders who hold dual membership in both our presbytery and the EPC Presbytery of the Southeast. Their examination process was unique; read about their journey, perspectives and experiences, in their own words, including testimonials from Teaching Elders and Ruling Elders.

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN CHURCH – Entering the EPC
Signal Mountain, Tennessee

Our Journey, Perspectives and Experiences

WHY NEW WINESKINS?

Signal Mountain Church (Tennessee) has been actively involved with renewal groups within the PC(USA) for the past 30+ years. Therefore, our relationship with New Wineskins was a natural affiliation of spiritual and theological agreement.

As we progressed in our dismissal experience, and as the transitional presbytery became more an assured promise, a concern surfaced of significant importance to our church leadership --- women in ministry and how women leaders would be validated in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Having this issue clarified in the ‘safe setting’ of the transitional presbytery provided unified opinion among our ruling elders and pastors.

The Lord moved us from a concern about “ourselves” to a place of missional calling. Who would ever have thought ecclesiastical process would be a mission endeavor?

Little did we know that the barrier to our dismissal into New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery would be posed by the most unlikely group. Our PC(USA) presbytery refused to dismiss us to the non-geographical transitional body. Their reasons were several, but the primary, unnamed reason was their refusal to recognize New Wineskins as a legitimate ecclesiastical body related to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

To avoid delays and conflict, the Signal Mountain church leaders agreed to be dismissed to a geographical presbytery of the EPC, Presbytery of the Southeast, where we requested reception. Before we were examined and received by them, we made known our desire to be in the New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery and our hope they would allow us as a congregation to enter and pass through the Presbytery of the Southeast to the New Wineskins. Once again the PC(USA) efforts to be an obstacle failed.

SURPRISE of SURPRISES!

In late May 2007, the Signal Mountain congregation was dismissed from the PC(USA). A week later at a called meeting on Saturday morning, the Presbytery of the Southeast examined the ruling elders and three of the pastors of the church, and the congregation was received into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

At the fall meeting of the Presbytery of the Southeast the Signal Mountain Church Session presented the request from the congregation to be dismissed to the New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery. Over the summer months the Presbytery of the Southeast had warmly received, welcomed and ministered to our leadership. To our amazement they asked us not to leave them, but instead to strengthen their geographical presbytery. We had never even considered that such a response and initiative would come from the geographical presbytery.

Our ruling elders were challenged. Sensing a call by the Lord to New Wineskins, and particularly to the mission of assisting other congregations, we did not feel we should turn from our original discernment. Without our knowledge, conversations occurred between the Presbytery of the Southeast and General Assembly committee leadership; action was taken asking us to hold membership in both presbyteries!!!

By the time the ruling elders arrived home, they were ready to proceed with the dual membership and ministries as God’s call and were ready to proceed. Actually, the dual membership has been a positive challenge to the Session to think more expansively.

NEW DISCOVERIES

What we have discovered afresh is how good the Lord is! We have been blessed to be alongside New Wineskin congregations, but our relationship in the geographical Presbytery of the Southeast has far exceeded our expectations. We could not be happier with our relationship, our place in mission and ministry, and our sense of oneness in the Church.

Prior to our being received, the Presbytery of the Southeast undertook a practical survey of Scripture on the role of women in ministry as teaching elders. We were invited as a Session to participate in the study, and we were amazed and blessed at the harmonious manner of this study and debate. When the time came for action, the presbytery vote to provide for women teaching elders was substantial in favor of that right resting with each congregation.

With a total of ten ruling elder commissioners allotted for each presbytery meeting, we were concerned about how many would attend. There has been great excitement about both attending and serving on presbytery committees. One of the first appointments to committees was one of our women ruling elders.

Signal Mountain Church has presented and presbytery has received four candidates for ministry; two of these are women. There was enthusiastic approval of their testimonies and calls to ministry.

We are thrilled and honored to have been received fully into the Evangelical Presbyterian Church with respect, with love, and with grace. The communion and fellowship have exceeded our anticipation, and the leadership has welcomed us with open and gracious hearts.

PERSONAL REMARKS on EPC RECEPTION

Each teaching and ruling elder was asked to reply with personal insights or experiences with our geographical presbytery examination and reception. The following is a compilation of those remarks.

TEACHING ELDERS (four statements)

Senior Pastor

I could not have been more graciously received and honored by the integrity of questioning by the MCC of the Presbytery of the Southeast. I was pleased to share with them my personal testimony of faith and my sense of call to ministry, but I was more deeply moved when they wanted to know how I was doing spiritually since the past months had been intense. They never once contrasted themselves to the PC(USA) nor spoke with disrespect of the denomination from which I was coming. They asked for my response to the ‘Essentials’ of the EPC and gave me a thorough review of Westminster. The questioning was non-threatening and the agreement on my areas of difference with WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith) was met with the response: ‘You mean that is all?’ My love for the Church has been significantly renewed by the grace and loving care of EPC leadership. I only wish I had another forty years of earthly ministry, as I have never been so excited about what the Lord is doing in His Church through the EPC.

Three Associate Pastors

My examination by the MCC of the Southeast Presbytery was different from any other oral assessment I have experienced. In the PC(USA), the process can become a cluster of litmus tests with each committee member having his/her own agenda…where only just the right words and catch phrases will identify a candidate as ‘one of us’…With a basic trust in place, there was (with the EPC) a freedom about this process that seemed respectful of me and yet focused on...discernment….the committee seemed genuinely interested in my relationship with Christ, my call to ministry, and my understanding of the Reformed tradition…It was quite refreshing to have a presbytery committee that pressed me about my commitment to Biblical standards of doctrine and leadership…They seemed responsive to my expressions of reverence for Christ, His Word, and His Church.

When I was examined by Presbytery of the Southeast (EPC), I had in mind previous experiences...within the PC(USA)…I had the sense that members of the COM [PC(USA)] had a particular agenda they wanted to pursue…looking for certain phrases, theological “Shibboleths” that would enable me to pass. I walked into my examination with the Presbytery of the Southeast…and found a refreshing time of sharing and being heard. My story of coming to know Christ, my call to ministry, and my sense of giftedness were all made a priority. It was clear that on the ‘essentials’ the committee sought unity, but on areas of particulars of the Westminster Confession, there was grace. In fact, several members of the committee shared their own differences and emphasized that the EPC was a place where liberty was given to non-essentials.

My PC(USA) interviews were fact-finding tours to see where I stood on various social and theological issues…questions did not ask for a faith story related to a personal relationship with Christ. Rather, the committee [PC(USA)] was more concerned with my ‘religious’ story. EPC (examination) was to the point; it was concerned about my personal walk with Christ and with true genuine interest. The conversation was uplifting and one of encouragement…I was questioned about the Westminster Confession of Faith and on several reformed essentials. I was asked to share my personal beliefs on Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, sovereignty of God, basics of Calvinism, and women in ministry.

RULING ELDERS

A compilation of expressions from ruling elder (men)

Our Session was divided into small groups for the examination by the Presbytery of the Southeast, and each elder individually was asked questions concerning our view of Scripture, our salvation experience in Jesus Christ, and our view of His Lordship. The ‘Essentials’ were presented to us as complete compliance, and gracious latitude was granted in the non-essentials of Westminster. We were honored at the equal consideration and treatment our women elders received.

What was so impressive to me was that the called meeting of the Presbytery of the Southeast (EPC) was held on a Saturday morning with a very large percentage of congregations present – even those at long distances. The kindness demonstrated to us was phenomenal. In our group experience, no one elder was singled out for examination, but each of us felt free to share our faith in the Lord. Discussion and questioning of the Westminster Confession of Faith was done with great reverence for our faith and the theological commitment of the Church, but the experience, by no means, resembled an interrogation. Most of our time was spent on the ‘Essentials’ which we all enjoyed reviewing and affirming. All of us were impressed by the Spirit’s gift of hospitality toward us and the grace with which the presbytery behaved and conducted themselves.

As a younger elder at Signal Mountain Church I had no idea what to expect, but our experience was so very positive and affirming…the process was one of respect, significance, and reverence for one another and the authority of the Church. The questions presented to me about my understanding and affirmation of the ‘Essentials’ were appropriate, clear, and direct. I never felt put on the spot in the examination process; instead, it was a welcomed opportunity to profess my faith in the Lord among these new brothers and sisters in Christ.

The questions we received from the Westminster Confession of Faith were clearly focused on the significant tenets of our reformed doctrine. I felt total freedom to disclose any exceptions and to honestly express that difference without intimidation. What I received in expressing my differences was the opinion that everyone had some exception, but the essentials of the whole were important to us all. Lastly, our women elders are very strong personalities, but they were received and examined in the same manner as the men.

How glad we were to have commissioners who possessed comfort and integrity in presenting the confessional standard of the Church to us in a meaningful and respectful manner. Their emphasis upon our knowledge and experience of Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives was outstanding! We had not heard Jesus’ name spoken with such conviction and commitment in many, many years. There is no doubt who Jesus is and that He is the personal Savior for all and the great Lord of the Church. The simple measure of hearing Scripture affirmed, instead of critiqued, was like a profound miracle to us. Our examination on doctrinal issues centered in the WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith) and could not have been improved upon. We are glad to be in the EPC among those with whom we find Scriptural, theological, and spiritual identity.

A compilation of expressions from ruling elder (women)

I am so pleased to have experienced the examination of the Presbytery of the Southeast with such holy convictions and such Christ-centered grace. The questions in my small group were directed to us as a whole with individual elders from our Session asked to participate by replying. The ‘Essentials’ were critically centered in the discussion, and we were refreshed to hear convicting language that honored the Word of God, the Trinity, and our Lord Jesus Christ. We eagerly told our testimonies of coming to receive Jesus as personal Savior and Lord. Never was a single item lifted from Westminster to serve as a litmus test, but reformed theology was presented and discussed with knowledge and experience at the heart of the discussion. As a female ruling elder I sensed no discrimination based on my gender. In fact, later at a meeting of the Presbytery of the Southeast, there were specific affirming statements about women as ruling elders. Overall, as a Session, we felt very welcomed and supported by the examination and receiving meeting.

As a woman called as a ruling elder, my examination experience on entering the EPC could not have been improved upon. I was treated with such respect, and I felt welcomed. I have experienced no discrimination at my examination or at any time since our reception. I am treated in the same manner as the men ruling elders with whom I serve alongside. At no time did I feel pressured to accept a narrow view of the WCF (Westminster Confession of Faith).

Not knowing what our experience of reception would be in the EPC, we were apprehensive. Any anxiety we had was immediately addressed by the most gracious and welcoming spirit of our presbytery. We were expected to know what we believed and to affirm the ‘Essentials,’ but that is nothing less than what we have asked for and sought in the PC(USA), but never had. We loved saying that we felt all Scripture is the inspired and infallible holy Word of God. Our discussion in small groups on the Westminster Confession provided such a rich and open dialogue about what we believe.

I, as a woman ruling elder, now serve on our Presbytery’s Church Developing and Planting Committee. I am the lone woman ruling elder among many men elders, but I am not there as a woman to prove any gender issue. I am there as the same of all ruling elders – to uphold Christ’s Church on the authority of Scripture and always to His glory and honor.

We have felt more validated as women in ministry in the EPC than we ever felt in the PC(USA). Our counsel and opinion has been received without the restrictive judgment which we have known as evangelical women in the PC(USA). All of our women officers rejoice that we are here...in the EPC. We love this communion!