COMMITTEES

As stated in the EPC’s Rules for Assembly, the ministries of the Assembly are conducted primarily through Permanent Committees and the Permanent Judicial Commission. In addition, Special Committees may be formed to address specific areas of concern or emphasis. Committee membership generally is limited to Ruling Elders and Teaching Elders, with the exception of:

• Benefit Resources, Inc., Board of Directors, which may have non-ordained members who possess the expertise needed for the Board to carry out its responsibilities, and who are active members of EPC churches.
• Next Generation Ministries Council, which may have up to six non-ordained members who have particular expertise or experience in Christian Education, student ministry, or college ministry, and who are active members of EPC churches.
• World Outreach, which may have up to two non-ordained members with particular expertise or experience in world missions, and who are active members of EPC churches.

Terms are normally for three years, and a person may serve two consecutive terms on the same committee followed by at least one year off. In accepting a nomination to committee membership, the nominee should clearly understand and be willing to accept the responsibility of active participation in the regular meetings of his or her committee. Committees normally meet via video conference or at the Office of the General Assembly in Orlando.

The National Leadership Team provides coordination of program committee work and oversees the continuing work of the General Assembly between stated meetings. It provides strategic guidance to the Office of the General Assembly, and works with the Stated Clerk in personnel administration of the General Assembly staff and develops the annual administration and benevolence budgets. The Committee serves as directors of the corporation and executes legal and corporate business. The NLT generally meets four times per year and several additional times by phone.

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The Benefit Resources, Inc., (BRI) Board of Directors oversees administration of the EPC denominational Retirement Plan and Group Medical Plan. The Board also serves as trustees of the Retirement Plan and are responsible for investment of insurance fund reserves.

Will Barnes
RE, Presbytery of the Midwest

Jim Lewien
RE, Presbytery of the West

Erik Ohman
TE, Presbytery of the West

Eric Shipton
TE, Presbytery of the New River

Stuart Van Kirk
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

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The Chaplains Work and Care Committee oversees and conducts the chaplain endorsement process, develops and implements policies and procedures for EPC chaplain ministry, and provides for pastoral care for endorsed chaplains and their families. The committee also recommends policies related to chaplaincy to the General Assembly. The committee meets once a year and by phone conference as needed.

Ben Brychta
RE, Presbytery of the Southeast

Darrell DeHaven
RE, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest

David Horton
TE, Presbytery of the Central South

Russ Ragon
TE, Presbytery of the West

Mark Ingles, Chaplain Endorser (ex officio)
TE, Presbytery of the West

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The Committee on Fraternal Relations assists the General Assembly in developing and maintaining relationships with other Christian organizations including denominations in the Reformed tradition, ecumenical agencies, and other groups working to advance the Kingdom of God through evangelism, nurture, and service.

Don Fortson
TE, Presbytery of the Central Carolinas

Jerry Harmon
RE, Presbytery of the Central South

Alan Trafford
TE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

Brad Strait, Moderator (ex officio)
TE, Presbytery of the West

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The Ministerial Vocation Committee resources the Ministerial and Candidates committees of the Presbyteries, and oversees the ordination testing process. The MVC is concerned with the initial and ongoing education and training of ministers and in the pastoral care of ministers and their families.

Chris Curtis
TE, Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes

Neil McAtee
TE, Presbytery of the Central South

Rachel White
TE, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest

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NEXT GENERATION MINISTRIES COUNCIL

The Next Generation Ministries Council is designed to equip, encourage, and shepherd church leadership to evangelize and disciple the Next Generation from birth through young adulthood.

Greg Aydt, Co-Chairman
TE, Presbytery of the West

Meagan Bergem
TE, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest

Andrew Mills
TE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

Becky Shultz
Presbytery of the West

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The Nominating Committee annually nominates the Moderator, Moderator-elect, and permanent committee members for election by the General Assembly. The committee receives endorsements of qualified individuals from presbyteries and church Sessions.

Jeff Chadwick
TE, Presbytery of the Southeast

Tom Clymer
TE, Presbytery of the New River

Wayne Hardy
TE, Presbytery of the Great Plains

Brad Kenney
TE, Presbytery of the West

Ron Meyer
TE, Presbytery of the East

David Ricketts
TE, Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest

Rob Sparr
TE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Ann Weston
RE, Presbytery of Mid-America

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The Permanent Judicial Commission studies questions of interpretation in the Book of Order referred by the Stated Clerk. The Commission also reviews overtures, recommendations, and resolutions for changing the Constitution prior to their presentation to the Assembly. In cases referred to the Assembly, the Commission shall make preliminary judgment to the Assembly until the Assembly has sustained or rejected its recommendations.

Amanda Cowan
RE, Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean

Nate Green
RE, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest

Gordon Miller
RE, Presbytery of the New River

Ken Roberts
RE, Presbytery of the West

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The Presbytery Review Committee provides structure, order, and continuity in reviewing the minutes of the presbyteries. It meets once a year in May, prior to the General Assembly. One member is elected annually, and the committee includes at least one former Stated Clerk.

Jane Bodden
RE, Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean

Keith Hopkins
RE, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest

George King
RE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

Jason Steele
TE, Presbytery of the Midwest

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The Theology Committee receives and studies such theological matters as may be referred to it by the General Assembly, and returns its study with recommendations and requested papers or documents to the Assembly.

Joe Bingold
RE, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest

Fred Flinn
RE, Presbytery of the Central South

Cameron Shaffer
TE, Presbytery of the Midwest

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The World Outreach Committee is responsible to implement the World Outreach Master Plan and to interpret and refine the World Outreach Missions Manual where necessary. It has oversight and care of EPC missionaries, their terms of call, and projects. The Committee evaluates agencies for potential cooperative agreements and works in conjunction with the Director of World Outreach. Two members of the Committee may be non-ordained with expertise in world missions.

Whitney Alexander
TE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

Susan Lear
RE, Presbytery of the Great Plains

Marcos Ortega
TE, Presbytery of the East

David Van Valkenburg
RE, Presbytery of the West

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REVELATION 7:9 TASK FORCE

The Revelation 7:9 Task Force was approved by the 38th General Assembly. Its purpose is to motivate and equip our EPC churches to represent—and grow in—the message of that verse. Specifically, that when the Kingdom of God comes in fullness, there will be a multitude “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.”

Rufus Smith, Co-Chairman
TE, Presbytery of the West

Jeff Cook
TE, Presbytery of the Central Carolinas

Greg Ealey
TE, Presbytery of the Great Plains

Laurie Johnston
TE, Presbytery of the Great Plains

Cheryl Mendes-Ellis
TE, Presbytery of the West

Brandon Queen
RE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

Eric Shipton
TE, Presbytery of the New River

Tom Werner
RE, Presbytery of Mid-America

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PASTORAL LETTER OF RACIAL LAMENT AND HOPE

The 42nd General Assembly approved a Moderator-appointed ad-interim committee to write a Pastoral Latter of Racial Lament and Hope. A Pastoral Letter is intended to shine the light of God’s Word broadly on an area of general concern to the Church, with the primary purpose to guide churches within the EPC rather than to identify our positions to the world.

Glenn Meyers, Co-Chairman
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Ken Chang
RE, Presbytery of the West

Marcos Ortega
TE, Presbytery of the East

Annie Rose
TE, Presbytery of the Rivers and Lakes

Carol Williams
RE, Presbytery of the Alleghenies

Michael Davis (ex officio)
Assistant Stated Clerk

Rosemary Lukens (ex officio)
Moderator, 42nd General Assembly
RE, Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest

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