On behalf of the combined boards of ECO and the Fellowship of Presbyterians I am thrilled to announce Dana Allin has accepted the call to be the first Synod Executive of ECO. The Synod is the highest body in ECO because, in our global Presbyterian and Reformed context, ECO believes itself to be an integral…

By M. J. Romano, Moderator, ECO Presbytery of the West Executive Presbyters Stated Clerks Presbyteries of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Dear Colleagues, I am writing in response to the recent decision of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Southern California and Hawaii in the case of the…

by Jim Singleton, President of The Fellowship of Presbyterians A persistent question for both PC(USA) and ECO congregations in The Fellowship of Presbyterians is our relationship to the Essential Tenets document – the centerpiece of The Fellowship’s Theology Project. Many of us believe the problems with which Presbyterians now struggle have developed as a result…

As we move into the final months of 2012, PC(USA) presbyteries are meeting and more pastors and congregations are being dismissed into ECO.  Checkout the ECO page to see the names of congregations and individuals as they complete the process...

The label “congregationalist” is being tossed around somewhat indiscriminately these days in our Presbyterian circles, especially by those who are critical of recent moves by PC(USA) evangelicals. We need to be clearer about what we mean—or ought to mean—when we use that term. It is a useful label for describing a specific view of church…

13 congregations were officially dismissed to join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians over this past weekend. “We extend the warmest of welcomes to all the congregations who joined ECO this weekend,” stated ECO President, Rev. Dr. Dana Allin. “We look forward to the partnership of these founding congregations to shine the beacon...

The Board of Directors approved the appointment of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. and its division, Risk Placement Services (RPS), to work with our Churches and their designated agents in risk management networking and procuring the best coverage possible. We are grateful to our National Insurance Program Committee that oversaw the RFP for services:...

This week I want to address two issues some people are encountering; ECO’s recognition as a Reformed body and some confusion over the term “subscriptionism” regarding the essential tenets for The Fellowship and ECO.

As spring is emerging in its various forms across the country, we want to update you on ECO. The months since the Orlando conference have been filled with questions and answers, planning and preparation: many developments you will start to see more clearly in the very near future. These same months have also been filled with our observance of Lent and the joyful celebration of Easter. These themes of death and resurrection, and spiritual discernment, restoration, hope and new life, are permeating our lives. We continue to be excited to see what God is bringing about in our midst.

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we start the weekend where many people will be “springing forward” into Daylight Savings Time, I want to catch you up on what is springing forward with both The Fellowship and ECO.

Every week, interest and activity around The Fellowship and ECO are increasing. Hundreds of individuals and many sessions have already signed the Covenant and joined The Fellowship.  We have received nearly 100 requests for applications for ECO from individual pastors and from Sessions.

Learn more about ECO! Following is an outline of 11 major characteristics of the ECO vision and polity. A printable PDF of this information is available here. We pray this is helpful for you in your discerning and learning process. 1. Defined core theology and behavioral expectations One of the main concerns for many individuals…

Dear Friends in The Fellowship of Presbyterians, In the second week after representatives from 765 congregations attended the Covenanting Conference in Orlando, there is momentum, joyful expectation, and much work to do.

John Ortberg, Pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian, in Menlo Park, CA, shares a vision for ministry and introduces The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO). This talk took place on January 19, 2012, at the Covenanting Conference for The Fellowship of Presbyterians, in Orlando, FL. You can also download the video directly through the Vimeo link below.

John Ortberg: A Vision for Ministry & Introducing ECO from Fellowship of Presbyterians on Vimeo.

Making a covenant is a highly personal decision. It acknowledges that something beyond us is more important than ourselves. It is only in the keeping of such personal commitments, however, that meaningful communities are formed and life in the church flourishes. When one part of the Body rejoices, we all rejoice and when one part…

Dear Friends of The Fellowship of Presbyterians,

We are deep in Advent around the church, and most congregations are getting the candles ready for Christmas Eve. The Fellowship of Presbyterians is also getting ready for the Covenanting Conference January 18-20 in Orlando. Nearly 1,700 people are already registered. With the Conference just one month away, I wanted to reflect on several things....

The board of The Fellowship of Presbyterians is meeting this week in Chicago, and we continue to be invigorated as we dream and pray together about a new kind of ministry community. We will soon post drafts of our theology and polity documents and invite your feedback. But before we turn to the structural pieces,…

Many people have been asking about the current status of the “Four Tiers” proposal presented in August at the Minneapolis Gathering — our way of explaining options for congregations to consider, given their particular contexts, while we work together to be the Church of Jesus Christ in a new way. These four “tiers” ranged from…

The primary goal of The Fellowship of Presbyterians is to create a supportive environment for congregations to thrive with a clear theological identity and the freedom to pursue their mandate to become nurturing communities of mission, worship, and witness. To do this well, we are committed to offering churches various ways of engaging with The…