First & Calvary Presbyterian

Church

Congregational Forum with

Denomination Committee

“Excuse me, in this house we do not use that kind of language!”

“Excuse me, in this house we do not use that kind of language!”

“That is not the kind

humor we bring to our dinner

table”

“You know the rules here, there is no playing outside or inside until these dishes are washed and put away”

REFORMED:

To be “Reformed” means several things. Historically, it means that we trace our roots to the Reformation,

when John Calvin and others led the movement to reform the Church

according to Scripture. Theologically, it means belief in the absolute

sovereignty of God and that the highest good is God’s glory.

The historical and theological heritage is often expressed in the “solas” of

the Reformation. These five theological truths were consistent across the reformed movement.

God’s grace alone as the only way to be reconciled to God, faith alone is the only means of receiving God’s

grace, Christ alone as the ground of God’s saving grace,

Scripture alone as the only infallible authority for belief and God’s glory

alone as the ultimate purpose for the lives of all people.

Are First and Calvary and PCUSA in theological sync

with each other?

Who We Are

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs

about God?

61% agree

God is Trinity: Father/Son in heaven; Holy Spirit among us on earth.

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs

about the Bible?

61% agree

The Bible is the inspired Word of God and its moral teachings are

true and clear, even if the writings contain some human

error.

In the last 5 years, I believe the size of the

congregation has increased.

Strongly Disagree 51%

First & Calvary is committed to evangelism and reaching out to the

unchurched.

Agree 33%

Neutral 30%

Disagree Somewhat 30%

Which of the following best expresses your beliefs

about sin and salvation?

80%

Although all people are sinful, they can be saved by grace

through faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

I think the Presbyterian Church (USA) is making a positive witness for Christ in this

country and around the world.

Agree 44%

Neutral 17%

Disagree 39%

Who Is PCUSA?

“In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites with a person through baptism regardless of

race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or

theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person.” (BO F-

1.0403)

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there

is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved…”(Acts 4:12) “…there is one

God, and one mediator between

God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim

2:5)

“A God without wrath brought men without

sin into a kingdom without judgment

through the ministrations of a Christ without a

cross.”

Richard Niebuhr

In 1965 there were 4.2 million members. In 2010,

there were 2 million members. By 2014 there were 1.7

million members of PCUSA.

Research Services, PCUSA

2005200620072008

2009

2010

936925794615

645565

20112012

544464

Will PCUSA be an asset or a liability for First and

Calvary’s future?

Option #1: Stay with PCUSA with no changes to the present

relationshipPros:

-- no litigation -- no expenditure ($$$)

-- no expenditure of time and energy (effort) -- F&C’s “appearance” – an image of all-inclusiveness

Cons:

-- loss of membership -- theologically divisive -- church split (splintering) -- loss of financial support -- loss of community influence and mission support -- no detailed tenets of beliefs

Option #1: Stay with PCUSA with no changes to the present

relationship

Pros:

-- financial support from PCUSA withheld

-- stay and attempt to reform PCUSA

Option #2: Stay with PCUSA with a new financial support agreement which is a

response to those in our congregation who do not want their tithes to support PCUSA

“agendas”

Cons: -- attempting to reform PCUSA could likely become an ongoing mission of time and energy and we would lose our true focus (great commission/ mission/worship/fellowship)

-- no detailed tenants of faith

Option #2: Stay with PCUSA with a new financial support agreement which is a

response to those in our congregation who do not want their tithes to support PCUSA

“agendas”

-- can we agree on what reform is? Is it achievable?

Pros: -- control of our own destiny

-- control of our decision making

Option #3: Affiliate with ECO or EPC

-- property ownership-- follow sound reformed theology

-- clear tenets of faith-- gain members-- control of tithes and offerings

Cons: -- doctrinal fine points

-- litigation risks

Option #3: Affiliate with ECO or EPC

-- effort and energy spent

-- loss of members and their financial support-- property ownership rights