Who We Are

Historically, we Presbyterians belong to a family of faith that can be described in two ways. If you talk
about how we govern ourselves, we are called "Presbyterian" which means "rule by elders." Our form of
government is different from the episcopal form with a hierarchy, or the congregational form where
government is by the congregation, for we have a representative form of church government.

If you talk about what we believe, we are called "Reformed." This means that our belief grows out of the
Christian faith as it was "reformed" during the Protestant Reformation, particularly through John Calvin and
John Knox.

The Presbyterian "family" has within it members which are unique and distinctive. In particular, the
Evangelical Presbyterian Church has some features that set it apart from the rest of the Reformed and
Presbyterian denominations.

1. Distinctive: While adhering to the Westminster Confession of Faith, along with the Larger and
   Shorter Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught by the Bible, we have developed a
   document called "The Essentials of Our Faith." While we believe all of our faith is important, some
   elements of that faith are absolutes. For example, it is essential that we agree on the meaning of the
   atoning death of Jesus on the cross. However, we do not believe it is essential to agree upon the
   timing of Christ's second coming. The EPC, therefore, has set forth these core beliefs of the
   Christian faith upon which there must be agreement, but permits latitude and differences of opinion
   on those matters not considered essential to be a Christian.
2. 
   Distinctive: The Westminster Confession of Faith has had a number of revisions over the years. Not
   only has the Evangelical Presbyterian Church adopted some important revisions that bring it up to
   date, but in addition, it has adopted a modern language version that has carefully maintained the
   integrity of the document while providing greater readability to our modern world.
3. 
   Distinctive: In a unique way among Presbyterians today, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is
   fully Trinitarian. We believe strongly in all three persons in the Godhead. As a consequence, there is
   a balanced emphasis on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. While affirming the priority of the
   fruit of the Spirit over the gifts of the Spirit in the Christian life, we also affirm those who believe
   that all the gifts of God's Spirit are biblically valid for today. While we are not Pentecostal, neither
   do we believe that the work of the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, should be ignored or
   forbidden.
4. 
   Distinctive: Part of the genius of Presbyterianism has been the role of the Ruling Elder, the layman,
   in the government of the church. When a denomination becomes clergy dominated, it tends to lose
   touch with the grassroots of the church. To maintain that important balance, the Evangelical
   Presbyterian Church provides for each congregation to send two Ruling Elders for each minister to
   Presbytery and General Assembly. Presbyteries have means available to maintain this distinctive
   regardless of the number of ministers belonging to Presbytery.
5. 
   Distinctive: The understanding of the role of women in the life of the church differs widely. For
   example, one Presbyterian denomination may require that women be elected as Elders and Deacons,
   another may forbid their election. Equally sincere Christians may differ on this issue. In the
   Evangelical Presbyterian Church, the decision to elect women as Ruling Elders or Deacons is left to
   the discretion of the local congregation. We believe that under the leadership of the Holy Spirit,
   God's people should be free to follow His leading on this important issue.
6. 
   Distinctive: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church recognizes that many things change over time.
   However, there are certain features of our government that are unique and distinctive, and should
   never change. Among these are the rights of a church over its own property and to elect its own
   officers. To insure that such features are not the victims of time or circumstance, there is written into
   our Book of Government, a section called, "Limitations in perpetuity." Here are identified certain
   rights held in perpetuity by Christians, both individually and in congregations. These rights must
   always be guaranteed by the Church. Additions to this section may be made, but nothing can be
   taken away.
7. 
   Distinctive: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church spells out specifically the first duty of the Church.
   Our Book of Government reads, "The first duty of the Church is to evangelize by extending the
   Gospel both at home and abroad, leading others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and
   Savior." It makes clear that "good works" are not the Gospel, but the fruit of the gospel. The
   statement concludes, "... The Church must never confuse its primary task of evangelism (the Gospel)
   with the fruit of faith (good works)." This affirmation settles for us a dispute that has caused much
   division in our day when churches have become preoccupied with social change to the neglect of
   true spiritual change.
8. 
   Distinctive: In our Book of Government, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church spells out rights
   reserved to a particular church. These rights include many things also guaranteed in perpetuity, but
   additionally, the right is included for a particular church to own its property as well as to withdraw
   with its property if it so decides. It outlines other rights, such as the right to call its own pastor. This
   means no pastor can ever be placed over a congregation without its consent.
9. 
   Distinctive: The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has no "per capita tax." We do not believe that
   one court of the Church has the right to put a "tax" with obligation on another lower court. The
   Presbytery or General Assembly may have a per member asking which is a voluntary contribution of
   the particular congregation to support the administrative and benevolence work of the Church. Gifts
   may always be designated.
10. 
    Distinctive: In the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, we have developed a system whereby the
    denomination can speak clearly and decisively to member congregations on issues facing our
    society. We do not believe in political positions, but we do believe the Church has an obligation to
    speak its mind to congregations on important issues. To do this, we have instituted a method
    whereby "position papers" are developed. Initially set forth as "preliminary," the paper is given to
    the denomination for response and input. Then a committee studies it and makes final
    recommendations to the General Assembly. Among the subjects on which the EPC has position
    papers are the Holy Spirit, the ordination of women, the value of and respect for human life, the
    problem of suffering, death and dying and divorce and remarriage.

Conclusion: Perhaps the finest distinctive of all in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is the spirit of love
that characterizes our denomination. With the historic marks of the true church -- the practice of scriptural
discipline, the right preaching of the Word and proper observation of the sacraments -- we have included
loving fellowship (John 13:35). Our motto is "In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All
Things, Charity." And underneath this motto, the seal of our Church adds "truth in love." Veritas in caritate"
so states the Latin translation of Paul's words in Ephesians 4:15. Indeed, the most distinguishing
characteristic of all is "truth in love."

While Reformed and Presbyterian, we believe these distinctives set us apart as true to both our biblical
Christian faith and our heritage. We were formed out of a desire to be a biblical denomination which was not
diverted by unnecessary doctrinal arguments or sociopolitical issues. Our primary task remains to lift up the
cross of Jesus to a lost and dying world.