Testimonials
The New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery Coordinating Team recently asked Teaching Elders (Pastors) and Ruling Elders who have been examined and received into EPC geographic presbyteries to share their feedback with us. We have sensed from some TEs/REs (those not in an EPC geographic presbytery) that they are uncertain, perhaps even anxious, about what the process would be for them. As we move to Become One, we want to start to respond to these "concerns" by sharing real life experiences of TEs/REs who have gone through the process.
Teaching Elders (pastors) and Congregations are both members of a Presbytery, therefore there are two distinct acts of receiving. One is to receive the Pastor (Teaching Elder) as a member of the Presbytery, the other is to receive the congregation. The Ruling Elders are examined as a part of the process for receiving the congregation into the Presbytery.
While each presbytery may handle the examination process differently, in general the process is:
· Teaching Elders are generally first examined by the Ministerial Committee of the Presbytery. This may be done by phone or in person. The examination is on the pastor’s views with respect to theology, sacraments, English Bible, Book of Order, Reformed tradition and nature of the office of Minister of the Word. The pastor will also be asked to share their personal faith journey. Upon satisfactory completion of the exam with the Ministerial Committee, the pastor will next be examined in the same fashion on the floor of Presbytery. Upon the successful exam by the whole Presbytery, the pastor will then be received by the Presbytery.
· Ruling Elders are generally examined by a Commission of the Presbytery that quite often is made up of members of the Presbytery’s Church Development Committee. The examination of ruling elders is a part of the reception process for a congregation. Elders are asked about their personal faith journey, their views on the same topics as for teaching elders, but in much less detail. Once the ruling elders have been successfully examined, the Commission generally will have the authority to receive the congregation at that time.
Please refer to the EPC “Book of Government” chapter 13 with respect to TEs and chapter 5 with respect to transferring congregations.
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James Quillen, Teaching Elder/Pastor Emeritus
Highland Heights Presbyterian Church, Cordova, TN
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Randy Jenkins, Teaching Elder
Central Presbyterian Church, Huntsville, AL
Moderator, New Wineskins EPC Transitional Presbytery
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Tim Foster, Teaching Elder
Highland Heights Presbyterian Church, Cordova, TN
Lieutenant, Chaplain Corps United States Naval Reserve
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Steven S. Bryant, Sr., Teaching Elder
Grace Chapel Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Madison, Mississippi
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Frankie Box, Ruling Elder
Grace Chapel Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Madison, MS
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Jon Sharpe, Teaching Elder
First Presbyterian Church EPC, Levelland, TX
Examined by West Presbytery
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Joseph Johnson, Teaching Elder
Rock Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, SC
Examined by Mid-Atlantic Presbytery
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Bill Martin, Teaching Elder
Cornerstone Bible Church, St. Petersburg, FL
Examined by Florida Presbytery
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Scott Bowen, Teaching Elder
First Presbyterian Church, Opelika, AL
Examined by Central South Presbytery
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Eric Geil, Teaching Elder
Kishwaukee Community Presbyterian Church, Stillman Valley, IL
Examined by Mid-America Presbytery
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Richard White, Teaching Elder
Montreat Presbyterian Church, Montreat, NC
Examined by Mid-America Presbytery
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Tom Sawyer, Teaching Elder
Middle Sandy Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Homeworth, OH
Examined by Midwest Presbytery
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