Jon Sharpe Testimonial

“We went through the transition process in January of 2008 with the Presbytery of the West.  The Ruling Elder portion was done in a very pastoral way by EPC Ruling Elders. The focus of the examination was hearing the faith testimonies of the elders.  The big things the examiners wanted to know were 1) the elders knew and loved the Lord and 2) they expressed a sense of call to join the EPC.  As for the TE examination, I did an EPC PIF (Pastor Information Form) and did a phone interview with the COM (Committee on Ministry).  The hot issues for them at that time were 1) women as TE 2) infant and believer baptism; e.g. could I support both? and 3) exceptions to the Westminster standards.

In recent floor exams, the presbytery has been very interested in making sure candidates can assent to the confession and are able to defend exceptions, including the statement of "no exceptions".  Some TEs believe the statement of "no exceptions" needs to be more deeply explored.  Recently a serving TE was excused from the presbytery because he had come to believe there was no hell.  After pastoral exploration of the issue by the COM, a resolution was not achieved, so the presbytery voted to excuse him.

I believe there is a latent issue over what is truly essential to the presbytery. Westminster is essential but the finer points of what constitutes true compliance may be more vague. That said, I do not believe that solid Jesus loving, Scripture loving, reformed theologians will have any trouble passing the examination process.

This presbytery is different from [my previous presbytery] because they truly respect and value reformed orthodoxy in theology and knowledge of the Scriptures.”