The Fellowship of Presbyterians

The Fellowship of Presbyterians is a new movement, not yet an organization, of Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations and leaders seeking new solutions to the some of the old problems vexing our denomination. The Fellowship was launched in early 2011 with the distribution of a white paper and its cover letter by a group of pastors from larger membership evangelical PC(USA) churches.  The white paper and cover letter (derisively, but not inaccurately dubbed “the Deathly Ill Letter” by it detractors) describe the authors’ view that the PC(USA) is  in late-stage institutional failure and cannot survive, let alone return to health, without significant changes in its direction and practice.

Knowing that others in the denomination shared their concern, the authors suggested a gathering of the “like-minded” for August 2011. They figured 300 people might join them in Minneapolis for the the August gathering. Instead, nearly 2,000 participants filled every available seat in the meeting place.

The fellowship remains a work in progress currently envisioning a place

  • (1) where congregations and leaders choosing to remain in the PC(USA) might discover ways to nevertheless differentiate themselves from the prevailing culture and theological and ministry drift of the denomination or
  • (2) to which congregations and leaders seeking to separate themselves from the denomination might might be dismissed; a new reformed body that seeks new for churches and leaders to relate, grow and work together.

I have called the Fellowship a “last best chance” for the PC(USA) and I don’t believe it is an overstatement to do so.

F.O.P Resources and Background Materials (with an LPC flavor)

The best place to learn more about the Fellowship or Presbyterians is at fellowship-pres.org Take a look, poke around, come back from time to time as the site is updated regularly.

The next national gathering of the Fellowship will be in January in Orlando.  I am attending the gathering along with an LPC elder. In this paper I explain to the LPC Session why I think it is important that we go to Orlando. Why We are Going to Orlando.

This edition of the e-pistle was posted on the eve of our departure for Orlando

After we returned from the first gathering in Minneapolis, I wrote some reflections on the experience.  The piece rambles a bit and some things have changed since August. The Fellowship of Presbyterians: Destructive Storm or Fresh Wind?

This Power Point presentation was used with our Session in September.  Again, somewhat outdated, but perhaps useful.

So how did we get where we are and how is one session responding?

Why a Robust Polity and Modest Theology is a Bad Combination, my understanding of 20th Century Presbyterian history.

A Time-line on the Presenting Issue of Ordination Standards

A First Letter from the Session to the people of Langhorne Presbyterian Chruch

A Second Letter from the Session of LPC

A Third Letter from the Session of LPC introducing a new LPC Statement of Faith. (The LPC Statement of Faith tells ourselves and the world who we are and what we believe.  It will be used in worship, classes, new member orientation and new officer preparation.  New officers will not be asked to subscribe to the Statement of Faith, but serious departure from it may be taken into consideration as the Session examines new officers for ordination or installation.)

Finally, two wonderful pieces from Joseph Small, recently retired from the PC(USA) Office of Theology and Worship:

What in the Church is a Council

The Travail of the Presbytery

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