Difference Between EPC and PCA?

[jinc1019]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the EPC and the PCA? From what I can tell, they seem very similar (except for how each denomination started).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

-Justin

 

[BryanW92]

They permit individual congregations to ordain women.

 

[AMR]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the EPC and the PCA? From what I can tell, they seem very similar (except for how each denomination started).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

-Justin

See:

Presbyterian and Reformed Churches

 

[jinc1019]

See:

Presbyterian and Reformed Churches

Wow...That list is amazing. Did you put that together?? I wish I had come across that a long time ago!

 

[jinc1019]

They permit individual congregations to ordain women.

Yes, that does seem to be a big difference.

 

[AMR]

Wow...That list is amazing. Did you put that together?? I wish I had come across that a long time ago!

No I am not the author. It is indeed a good starting point.

 

[tulipbee]

They permit individual congregations to ordain women.

Is that OK?

 

[BryanW92]

Is that OK?

Not in the PCA.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the EPC and the PCA? From what I can tell, they seem very similar (except for how each denomination started).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

-Justin

For those unfamiliar with these acronyms, can you identify the denomination?

 

[tulipbee]

Not in the PCA.

I think I read somewhere a group of pca'ers are working on ordaining women in the future

 

[AMR]

I think I read somewhere a group of pca'ers are working on ordaining women in the future

Not likely unless the group plans on leaving the PCA.

 

[BryanW92]

I think I read somewhere a group of pca'ers are working on ordaining women in the future

They'll be quite happy when they are expelled from the PCA and join the PCUSA.

 

[Calvinist Dark Lord]

For those unfamiliar with these acronyms, can you identify the denomination?

EPC = Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and PCA = Presbyterian Church in America.

 

[Calvinist Dark Lord]

Can someone please explain to me the difference between the EPC and the PCA? From what I can tell, they seem very similar (except for how each denomination started).

Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

-Justin

The EPC has quite a bit more congregational autonomy than does the PCA and as such, one cannot claim that any one congregation 'represents' the EPC.

Some congregations have female Ruling and/or Teaching Elders, some forbid female elders. Some congregations are charismatic friendly, some are hard cessationalists. Some congregations have contemporary worship, some follow the regulative principle (as understood by the OPC or the PCA) and some have both kinds of services.

It has been my experience, having been a member of the EPC for 23 years that most congregations have female deacons (your mileage may vary). However since the deacons are neither a court of the church nor have any governing responsibilities, this is largely a non-issue.

At one point nearly all female Teaching Elders were gone from the denomination...and then a great number of former PCUSA congregations with female pastors joined the EPC and the number of female Teaching Elders increased.

The issue of female Elders is an in-house debate, and the denomination neither forbids nor mandates female elders at this time. Whilst the congregation has the right to call it's own pastors, said persons MUST have the call placed in their hands by the the Presbytery in which that congregation belongs. Teaching Elders belong to the Presbytery and not their congregations.

 

[jinc1019]

The EPC has quite a bit more congregational autonomy than does the PCA and as such, one cannot claim that any one congregation 'represents' the EPC.

Some congregations have female Ruling and/or Teaching Elders, some forbid female elders. Some congregations are charismatic friendly, some are hard cessationalists. Some congregations have contemporary worship, some follow the regulative principle (as understood by the OPC or the PCA) and some have both kinds of services.

It has been my experience, having been a member of the EPC for 23 years that most congregations have female deacons (your mileage may vary). However since the deacons are neither a court of the church nor have any governing responsibilities, this is largely a non-issue.

At one point nearly all female Teaching Elders were gone from the denomination...and then a great number of former PCUSA congregations with female pastors joined the EPC and the number of female Teaching Elders increased.

The issue of female Elders is an in-house debate, and the denomination neither forbids nor mandates female elders at this time. Whilst the congregation has the right to call it's own pastors, said persons MUST have the call placed in their hands by the the Presbytery in which that congregation belongs. Teaching Elders belong to the Presbytery and not their congregations.

Good information, thanks!

 

[tulipbee]

They'll be quite happy when they are expelled from the PCA and join the PCUSA.

If God leads them to pcusa, then that's tells us something went wrong in the PCA.

 

[BryanW92]

If God leads them to pcusa, then that's tells us something went wrong in the PCA.

Or that they listened to their politics more than the Holy Spirit. It's quite common these days.

 

[tulipbee]

Or that they listened to their politics more than the Holy Spirit. It's quite common these days.

No escape from politics

 

[BryanW92]

No escape from politics

But many people do not see it as politics. They see politics as truth and politicians as people to be trusted to the extent that they will place their future in the hands of politicians and say "manage my life".

 

[tulipbee]

But many people do not see it as politics. They see politics as truth and politicians as people to be trusted to the extent that they will place their future in the hands of politicians and say "manage my life".

Arminianism vs calvinism
vs democrats vs republicans
both behave alike.