The Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) entered into a new ‘Fraternal and Confessional’ partnership today, when the General Assembly approved Fraternal and Confessional relations with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (USA).
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Around the world PCI had 12 global missional relationships with churches in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America and now, a thirteenth, in North America with EPC (USA) – along with other missional relationships with institutions and agencies around the globe.
In the report of the General Assembly Advisory Committee, affirming the Fraternal and Confessional relations between PCI and EPC (USA) it said that ‘in seeking to express our commonality of purpose in witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ that expressions may include:
- Invitations for appointed representatives to attend and exchange fraternal greetings at meetings of their General Assemblies
- Opportunities for ministers in training to benefit from exchange visits
- The mutual sharing of published resources
- Possibilities of short-term mission-team visits
- Encouragement of bi lateral bonds of fellowship between congregations of both denominations.
Having approved the new relationship, Rev Andrew Smith, who is Director of Emerging Leaders Program at Central Presbyterian Church in Manhattan in New York City, addressed the General Assembly. Originally from Northern Ireland, and the minister of Dun Laoghaire Presbyterian Church, Dublin, for the last thirteen years he has been serving in the EPC (USA).
The former minister of Presbyterian Church of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania said, “On behalf of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church USA, I want to thank the Assembly for your approval of this motion. We are immensely grateful to the PCI, not only for your faithful legacy proclaiming the gospel for so many years, but now for your willingness to enter into gospel partnership with us in the EPC so that we might serve better together in our witness and work for the Lord.”
In his address Mr Smith reminded the General Assembly that the EPC (USA) and the Presbyterian Church In Ireland (PCI) are both committed to the Great Commission and said how much PCI’s vision of 10 plus 10 in 10 resonated with his Church’s vision of each of their congregations becoming ‘a Parent (by planting one or more new churches), a Partner (joining other EPC churches in their area to plant churches), or a Patron (by providing financial support to those starting new churches) of church planting.’
Mr Smith also told the General Assembly, “This new partnership with the PCI builds on existing partnerships the EPC has with Presbyterian bodies in Brazil, Mexico, Peru and France. World Outreach, the global missions arm of the EPC, focuses its work in ‘the Hard Places’ of the Middle East, North Africa and other predominantly Muslim areas of the world where few, if any, have access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
He also emphasised that being a Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical and Missional family of churches in the United States, they were “working alongside others to steal back, or better, take up rightful ownership again, of ‘evangelical’, a word that had been “been hijacked in a sense by parts of the wider culture to mean something different to its biblical roots”.
As an Evangelical, Presbyterian, Reformed and Missional, Mr Smith shared with the Assembly the EPC’s four gospel priorities: church planting, church health (every member viewing himself or herself as a missionary on a mission), being a global movement (heeding Jesus’ Great Commission to ‘make disciples of all nations), and effective Biblical Leadership.
In closing his address Rev Smith recognised that both the EPC and the PCI faced similar challenges, the numbers of those seeking ordination, for example, and commented that this newly established partnership will enable PCI and EPC (USA) to help each other sharing strategic ideas, meeting together, and praying together.
Mr Smith said, “We in the EPC very much look forward to collaborating with you on these issues, as well as anticipating all the enjoyable benefits that will come from a partnership, such as the one we’re establishing this month.”
The house warmly acknowledged his address. Mr Smith also said that EPC (USA) looked forward to welcoming PCI’s new Moderator, Dr Gribben to their General Assembly in Detroit, Michigan, next week.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (USA) began life in 1981. Today, it consists of more than 600 churches with approximately 121,000 members. The Church has a world missions programme with a priority on sending missionaries to unreached people groups. EPC (USA)'s website states that ‘we are eager to plant churches across the United States and especially in urban communities and college towns. Our desire is that every one of our congregations will be an outpost of the Kingdom, with every member viewing himself or herself as a missionary on a mission.” For more information on the EPC (USA) you can visit their website here.