Gerrit Dawson, co-moderator of the New Wineskins, says, "We realized we needed new wineskins and it’s not really about denominations at all. It’s about being missional, out-turned congregations. That’s where the real deal is. The rest is peripheral to our calling."
According to Dawson, conservative Presbyterians have for years been troubled by signs of increasing liberalism in the PCUSA such as drifting from the Trinity and the denial of absolute truth. Some tried to take a stand within the denomination. But actions by the PCUSA's 217th General Assembly, such as a move toward the ordination of homosexuals, rang a final warning bell for the conservative Presbyterians. "For years we have mourned our denomination’s unfaithfulness and we have grieved its actions,” says Dean Weaver, a New Wineskins co-moderator. “We have labored faithfully for renewal.”
So, on Feb. 9, 2007, representatives of the New Wineskins voted unanimously to pursue refuge within the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) after the EPC proposed to establish a temporary, non-geographic presbytery for dissident PCUSA congregations.
According to EPC Moderator Paul Heidebrecht, “The Holy Spirit drew us toward the New Wineskins. We are truly impressed by the mission-driven polity of the NWAC.”
On June 22, the move became official when the 27th General Assembly of the EPC officially created a New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery. Transitional membership commenced on the adjournment of the 27th General Assembly and will end on June 30, 2012.
Founded in 1981, the EPC is based outside Detroit in Livonia, Mich., and has approximately 180 congregations and 75,000 members. The Louisville, Ky.-based PCUSA has 2.3 million members in more than 11,000 churches.
When asked how the EPC differs from the PCUSA, Heidebrecht starts by emphasizing the name: "It describes us perfectly. We are both evangelical and Presbyterian. We are evangelical in our zeal for the Gospel and evangelism and missions and living obediently as followers of Jesus.
“At the same time, Heidebrecht continues, “we are rooted deeply in the Protestant Reformation and especially the theological and pastoral work of John Calvin. We embrace the Westminster Confession of Faith as our doctrinal standard and the rule of spiritually mature elders linked together regionally as the best way to guide local congregations."
The purpose of the EPC proposal to the NWAC is "not to undermine, circumvent or de-value the primary and fundamental responsibility of each presbytery to exercise its rights and responsibilities in receiving churches and ministers," states the formal proposal document. Instead, it reflects "deep gratitude for the work of the Spirit over the EPC’s short history in bringing us to the place of a generous yet clear selfunderstanding as a Reformed confessional church practicing a healthy unity and diversity."
Dawson and Weaver offer their “heartfelt and profound thanks” to the EPC for creating a New Wineskins Transitional Presbytery. “We are humbled that the EPC has opened its arms to the vision we share. We agree profoundly that God is calling us to an expression of his church based on shared essentials of the faith, clear ethical imperatives, and a mission-serving polity.”
The co-moderators say they know that many NWAC churches are being called out from the PCUSA, and thus, are grateful for the open arms of the EPC. But, they acknowledge, some New Wineskins churches are called to remain in the PCUSA, “to live out this vision right where they are.”
Prior to the New Wineskins gathering in February, two officials of the PCUSA sent a letter to their 11,300 congregations saying that they were "saddened" by the prospect of some congregations leaving the denomination. "We are better followers of Jesus when we stick together, mutually encouraging one another in the work of discipleship," said the letter dated Jan. 29 from clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and executive director Linda Valentine of the General Assembly Council.
The PCUSA lost 48,484 members in 2005, continuing a decline that started in 1967 when there were 4.2 million Presbyterians in the mainline denomination. Currently, the PCUSA has 2.24 million members, so the total loss of members over the last 38 years is 1.96 million members, an average of more than 50,000 members each year.
Weaver told the NWAC gathering in February that after the courtship by the EPC, "Oct. 29 and 30 [will be] our wedding date, if you will.” Oct. 29-30 is when the New Wineskins meet again for their fall convocation in Sacramento, Calif., and will be the first gathering under the NWEPC presbytery.
