First & Calvary Presbyterian Church Congregational Forum with Denomination Committee

“Excuse me, in this house we do not use that kind of language!”

“That is not the kind humor we bring to our dinner table”

“You know the rules here, there is no playing outside or inside until these dishes are washed and put away”

REFORMED: To be “Reformed” means several things. Historically, it means that we trace our roots to the Reformation, when John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church according to Scripture. Theologically, it means belief in the absolute sovereignty of God and that the highest good is God’s glory.

The historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the “solas” of the Reformation. These five theological truths were consistent across the reformed movement. God’s grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone is the only means of receiving God’s grace, Christ alone as the ground of God’s saving grace,

Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief and God’s glory alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of all people.

Are First and Calvary and PCUSA in theological sync with each other?

Who We Are

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs about God? 61% agree God is Trinity: Father/Son in heaven; Holy Spirit among us on earth.

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs about the Bible? 61% agree The Bible is the inspired Word of God and its moral teachings are true and clear, even if the writings contain some human error.

In the last 5 years, I believe the size of the congregation has increased. Strongly Disagree51%

First & Calvary is committed to evangelism and reaching out to the unchurched. Agree33% Neutral 30% Disagree Somewhat 30%

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs about sin and salvation? 80% Although all people are sinful, they can be saved by grace through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

I think the Presbyterian Church (USA) is making a positive witness for Christ in this country and around the world. Agree44% Neutral 17% Disagree 39%

Who Is PCUSA?

“In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites with a person through baptism regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person.” (BO F )

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved…”(Acts 4:12) “…there is one God, and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim 2:5)

“A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross.” Richard Niebuhr

In 1965 there were 4.2 million members. In 2010, there were 2 million members. By 2014 there were 1.7 million members of PCUSA. Research Services, PCUSA

Will PCUSA be an asset or a liability for First and Calvary’s future?

Option #1: Stay with PCUSA with no changes to the present relationship Pros: -- no litigation -- no expenditure ($$$) -- no expenditure of time and energy (effort) -- F&C’s “appearance” – an image of all-inclusiveness

Cons: -- loss of membership -- theologically divisive -- church split (splintering) -- loss of financial support -- loss of community influence and mission support -- no detailed tenets of beliefs Option #1: Stay with PCUSA with no changes to the present relationship

Pros: -- financial support from PCUSA withheld -- stay and attempt to reform PCUSA Option #2: Stay with PCUSA with a new financial support agreement which is a response to those in our congregation who do not want their tithes to support PCUSA “agendas”

Cons: -- attempting to reform PCUSA could likely become an ongoing mission of time and energy and we would lose our true focus (great commission/ mission/worship/fellowship) -- no detailed tenants of faith Option #2: Stay with PCUSA with a new financial support agreement which is a response to those in our congregation who do not want their tithes to support PCUSA “agendas” -- can we agree on what reform is? Is it achievable?

Pros: -- control of our own destiny -- control of our decision making Option #3: Affiliate with ECO or EPC -- property ownership -- follow sound reformed theology -- clear tenets of faith -- gain members -- control of tithes and offerings

Cons: -- doctrinal fine points -- litigation risks Option #3: Affiliate with ECO or EPC -- effort and energy spent -- loss of members and their financial support -- property ownership rights