EPNews 6/12/08
- 28th General Assembly Preview
- Addtional reports available for download
28th General Assembly Preview - from Jeff Jeremiah
As the GA staff and Fourth Presbyterian Church are hard at work with final preparations for the 850 people at our General Assembly meeting next week, here's a preview of some of the items of interest we'll be addressing. "Re-engage: Christ as Culture's Hope" is the theme of the Assembly Workshop on Wednesday, June 18, which promises to have our largest attendance on record. Dennis Haack and Steve Garber will be our keynote speakers. Richard Cizik, NAE Vice President of Legislative Affairs and minister member of the Presbytery of the East, will be the luncheon speaker. "Declare His Praises" (1 Peter 2:9) is tha Assembly's theme. Dr. Sinclair Ferguson will bring messages from God's Word to the Assembly's evening worship times. Long Range Planning. In its final report to the Assembly, LRP is recommending that the GA "formally and intentionally commit itself to building a missional denomination comprised of missional churches," so that we become a denomination "committed to four key principles: being missional, evangelical, Reformed and Presbyterian." Moderator. RE Allen Roes (Elder Emeritus of Lake Forest Church, Huntersville, NC), our current Moderator-Elect, will be nominated to serve as the Moderator of the 28th General Assembly. Moderator-elect. TE Nate Atwood, chair of the Long Range Planning committee and Pastor of Kempsville Presbyterian Church in Virginia Beach, VA is being nominated to serve as Moderator-elect. Commissionings. On Thursday night we will commission nine new World Outreach missionaries. On Friday night we'll commission three new National Outreach home missionaries. Network lunches. The Thursday lunch hour will be extended to enable affinity and discussion groups to meet together in assigned rooms at Fourth Presbyterian. Confirmed at this time are: Room assignments and other gatherings will be announced at the Assembly Committee on Administration. The COA is recommending that 1) the 2009 General Assembly budget be $1,580,500. This is an increase of $13,800 (less than one percent) over the 2008 budget of $1,566,700, 2) Per Member Asking (PMA) be increased from $23 to $25 for 2009, 3) its name be changed to Executive Council to better reflect its leadership/strategic thinking function. Theology. A Preliminary Position Paper on the Doctrine of Scripture will be presented by the Theology committee. Ministerial Vocation. MVC is making recommendations about 1) associate membership in presbytery and 2) chaplain's endorsement for deacons. Women in Leadership. A major leadership training initiative is being introduced at this GA. REAL (Reaching, Equipping, Advancing Leaders) training materials, will be available for women's groups in August, 2008. New Wineskins / EPC Transitional Presbytery Commission. The Commission is filing a report which includes a vision statement for the next four years. Fraternal Relations - FR is recommending that the GA send a letter to the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) "calling attention to the manner in which the EPC is being unjustly accused of wrongdoing." Some of these items will spark strong and healthy discussion. I'm praying that through all our deliberations we'll be guided by the words of Philippians 2.1-4, which remind us who we are and how we're to interact with one another: "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Additional reports available to download
Additional Pages for the Commissioners Handbook are available for downloading. They will be handed out to commissioners at registration.
