Evangelical Presbyterian Church
The EPC
The EPC Motto:
In Essentials, Unity;
In Non-Essentials, Liberty;
In All Things, Charity: Truth in Love
The lineage of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has roots that go back to the time of the Reformation when God’s sovereignty, the authority of the Bible and the doctrines of grace were reaffirmed.Out of the Reformation came the five “Sola’s” (“only’s”):Sola Christus (Christ alone), Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), Sola Gratia (Grace alone), Sola Fide (Faith alone), and Sola Deo Gloria (to God alone be the glory).Justification (being declared right with God) by faith alone through grace alone was the battle cry of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox and others.Even so, this particular wing of the Reformation has its roots extending back to Bernard of Clairvaux of the 12th Century and Augustine of the 4th century.The seed of the EPC continued during the mid-1600’s with the shaping of the Westminster Confession of Faith.Our spiritual ancestors came to North America during the middle 17th century.A century later, Jonathan Edwards triggered a spiritual awakening in New England and became a link in our historical chain.In short, the story of Presbyterianism is the story of the EPC.
In the fall of 1980 and spring of 1981 a group of pastors and elders held meetings in St. Louis, Missouri for planning and prayer.These leaders had become increasingly distressed with the regularity within their own Presbyterian denominations to discard historic teaching.They wanted to form a church that took seriously the words of Scripture, the theology of the historic confessions of the faith, and the evangelical fervor of Presbyterian founders.They envisioned a denomination that was truly evangelical and truly Presbyterian; hence the name.
In Essentials, Unity
Six months later, to ensure that the ideals of faith would remain foundational to the new denomination, an intentionally brief list of essential beliefs was drafted.The Essentials (Listed under Our Beliefs) define those beliefs that are essential to the purity of historic Christian faith, consistent with Presbyterian theology and church government, and evangelical in sharing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ.
In Non-Essentials, Liberty
Even though the founders of the EPC valued purity of faith, they wisely saw the danger of division over non-essential issues.To protect the new denomination from needless strife, the founders promoted an understanding of freedom in which less essential matters were left to the conscience of individual churches and believers.This understanding included such matters as the freedom of the local church to elect its own officers, to exercise spiritual gifts, and to own and keep property.So EPC churches study the Scripture and make their own decisions about issues like worship style and the ordination of women.At regional and national meetings, church leaders assume that they will work and worship with other leaders who differ with them on these and other non-essential matters.
In All Things, Charity: Truth in Love
The final statement of our motto speaks of love.We are fellow pilgrims, walking together with our Lord.We have, individually, received charity toward us, so we extend charity to each other.We speak the truth to define our faith and to extend it to others.But we speak out of love for our brothers and sisters, and for our Savior.
For more information, visit the Evangelical Presbyterian website.
www.epc.org