The Presbyterian Plumb Line (PPL) recently hosted two Zoom meetings entitled “What’s at Stake in the EPC?” that have drawn more than 1,000 views on the PPL’s YouTube channel.
Featuring members of the PPL editorial board and former EPC Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah, the discussions brought together pastors, ruling elders, and concerned members to consider the denomination’s direction regarding same-sex attraction (SSA) and ordination.
Citing Amos 7:7-8, TE Peter Larson began by reminding everyone that “a plumb line is a tool for building … our goal is not to bash the Church. Our goal is to build her up and make it better.” This reflects the heart of the PPL: educating elders, strengthening the church, and pursuing reformation with both grace and truth.
Concerns were raised regarding the recent drafts of the Ad Interim Committee on Same-Sex Attraction and Ordination Standards (AIC) reports. The main concern centers on the belief that the AIC’s revisions are “vague and permissive,” potentially opening the door to ordaining candidates who experience ongoing SSA.
TE Don Fortson explained, “Our concern is that the EPC is in danger of drifting away from our doctrinal beliefs and core biblical values.” TE David Weber emphasized this, saying, “Ordination is a high calling,” noting that it should be reserved for those “who embody the teachings and doctrine of the Bible and serve as a model.”
TE Jeff Jeremiah encouraged active participation by ruling elders, praising them as “the conservative conscience of the EPC.” He added, “This is a fight for the future of the EPC … in this conflict, we are arguing unashamedly for fidelity to Biblical and confessional truth.” Jeremiah expressed hope that every congregation would be represented at the upcoming Assembly, declaring, “We’re standing up for what Jesus has already told us about His Church — a radiant church without stain or wrinkle.”
As Presbyteries continue to discuss the work of the AIC, with recommendations scheduled for consideration at the 46th General Assembly in June 2026, PPL editors encouraged readers to examine and consider signing the Red Line Statement. This declaration affirms that “the high calling of ordination is incompatible with a settled identification as a ‘gay Christian’ or with ongoing patterns of same-sex attraction.”
The editors cautioned that adopting the AIC report in its current form could lead to division and potential departures, but they also expressed hope that open dialogue and decisive action could preserve denominational integrity. Weber reminded participants that “position papers and pastoral letters are not binding,” encouraging Sessions to consider submitting a constitutional amendment to the EPC’s Book of Government as an overture to their Presbyteries in order to enshrine this stance.
“What’s at stake,” Fortson concluded, “is nothing less than the EPC’s faithfulness to God’s Word and our witness before a watching world.”
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