New Wineskins Convocation Delegates vote to further the Kingdom through 'a realignment' with the EPC By Craig M. Kibler Staff Writer The Layman Online Monday, February 12, 2007 ORLANDO, Fla. – On a balmy Friday night in the land of the Magic Kingdom, the New Wineskins Association of Churches unanimously voted to further the Kingdom of God as "a missional church and connectional body" through what was termed "a realignment" with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. That realignment depends on the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, during its General Assembly on June 20-23, voting to establish transitional, non-geographic presbyteries. If that proposal is approved, the New Wineskins Association of Churches will petition the General Assembly to create a New Wineskins presbytery, overseen by a General Assembly Commission, that will be authorized to "immediately receive" New Wineskins churches into that presbytery. This presbytery, according to the New Wineskins Association, would include the following four points: It will be self-governing under the New Wineskins Constitution. It shall have authority, for example, to ordain, install, receive and dismiss pastors. New Wineskins pastors and staff shall be eligible to participate immediately in the EPC's pension and medical plans. Each New Wineskins church will own its own property and will elect and ordain elders and deacons from the members of its own congregations. The presbytery shall have the authority to plant churches. In addition, a General Assembly Commission – comprised of New Wineskins and EPC members – will work "collaboratively on the strategy and actions that will establish an evangelical, missional stream of Reformed Presbyterianism. We believe this will become the new thing the Father has ordained, and we have been led by the Spirit to pursue," the New Wineskins Association stated. Kerry Fraas, an elder from Mt. Vernon Community Presbyterian Church in McKeesport, Pa., and a member of the New Wineskins Association leadership team, asked voting delegates to approve the five recommendations in the strategy team's report. His motion stated: "That realigning and remaining are faithful options for our churches and affirm all five recommendations from the strategy team report in their entirety." The Rev. Dr. Gerrit Dawson, co-moderator of New Wineskins and the moderator of the plenary session, said the recommendations "are not binding on any one congregation." Instead, he said, "we are loosing those churches who feel called to take another step." The five recommendations are: Endorse the plan set forth in its report. Authorize the board of directors of the association to petition the EPC to create an NWAC transitional non-geographic presbytery as soon as the way be clear. That those churches called by God to do so take such action as is necessary to enable them to realign with another Reformed body, taking with them their property, as is permitted by G-11.0103i of the Book of Order. That those churches still discerning God's will continue to study, pray and then follow God's direction in obedience to his will. That those churches that feel called by God to stay in the PCUSA do so and, faithful to their call, proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. With very little discussion, the delegates unanimously approved the motion. "We've crossed the Rubicon," Dawson said after the vote, "from which there is turning back, nor should there be." He cautioned the delegates, however, that their action comes with a price. "Some of us are going to get smacked," he said. "It has to happen, and we shouldn't be surprised. We can expect it. In my experience, the flaming darts of the evil one are craftily designed" and, although "the people who throw the darts are not satanic themselves, that's the way the world works." Citing Ephesians 6:13, he encouraged the delegates "to take up the shield of faith" and recognize that "God is our assurance." Statement on role of women After the vote, there was discussion on a motion, eventually approved, that a paper be produced that affirms and outlines the Biblical basis for women serving as pastors, elders and deacons. Dawson cautioned the delegates about focusing on women's ordination as an "essential tenet" before discussions during the transitional period with the EPC get under way. "We've received a gracious invitation" from the EPC, he said. "They know who we are." Nancy Lee Cochran, a minister from Pittsburgh, questioned the makeup of the strategy team. She said she loved "every bit" of the report but, when she saw them in Orlando, "every one of them was a white male." Responding to Cochran's concern, the Rev. Carmen Fowler, co-moderator of the board of the New Wineskins, said the nine members were chosen from nominations made during the Tulsa convocation in July 2006. "If you want different people," she said, "you have to nominate different people." Delegates also approved a motion asking endorsing congregations who are willing to be publicly identified to voluntarily provide that information for posting on the organization's Web site. Another motion that was approved established a task force for those congregations seeking to remain a part of the PCUSA and "to flesh out what it means to be part of the New Wineskins Association," but not the transitional presbytery, and to bring a recommendation to the winter convocation. Craig M. Kibler is the Director of Publications for the Presbyterian Lay Committee and Executive Editor of The Layman and The Layman Online. He can be reached at cmkibler@layman.org.

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