Making Decisions in Your Congregation
Last evening at the Presbytery meeting at Tower Church in Grove City, we dismissed the New Bedford and Covenant Churches to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. This was a sobering moment for us all. I am grateful for the grace exhibited by those involved: Council moderator, Glenn Hink; Presbytery moderator, Amy Na; New Bedford pastor (Doug Runyan) and elders; Covenant pastor (Christopher Matthewson) and elders. Doug has lead his congregation through this process in the past year. Chris agreed to come as pastor knowing that Covenant was well down the road to this decision.
New Bedford (responding to the request “to honor its historic relationship” with Shenango Presbytery) has made a contribution of Presbytery per capita funds equal to the amount for 2012, 2013 and 2014 ($15,500). Our thanks to the session of New Bedford. This will help the Presbytery with the financial impact of their dismissal.
I also mentioned that I have prepared a paper [click here] of further reflections on issues involved for churches engaged in this discernment. We have never been through anything like this before, so we are learning as we go. I pray that this paper will be helpful. I very much hope for your comments.
David Dawson
The Presbytery of Shenango 