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MinistryYear2019–2020

—ExecutiveSummary—

IntheEPC,contributionsareputtoworkachievingoursharedmissionandvision,whichwebelieveisaccomplished“BetterTogether”thanseparately.

—WhytheEPCExists—

OurMission:TheEPCexiststocarryouttheGreatCommissionofJesusasadenomination

ofPresbyterian,Reformed,Evangelical,andMissionalcongregations.

OurVision:TothegloryofGod,theEPCfamilyaspirestoembodyandproclaimJesus’loveasaglobalmovementofcongregationsengagedtogetherinGod’smissionthroughtransformation,multiplication,andeffectivebiblicalleadership.

OurMotto:

InEssentials:UnityInNon-Essentials:LibertyInAllThings:Charity

—HowtheEPCFunctions“BetterTogether”—

EPCOverview 2CollaborativeMinistries 4ConnectionalSupport 7CustodialOperations 10Conclusion 12

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EPCOverview

YourcontributionsarededicatedtoadvancetheEPCmissionandvision“BetterTogether”throughCollaborativeMinistries,ConnectionalSupport,andCustodialOperations.

EPCNationalSpendingPlan

$2,650,000–FY20(July2019–June2020)

• 625churchesin14presbyteries,including42plants($2.6Mnationalbudget).• 70WorldOutreach(www.epcwo.org)globalworkersin30countries($5Mannualcashflowinadditionto20%ofPMAincome).

• 60chaplainsministeringinmanyopportunevenues.• 14permanentand3specialcommittees/ministryteams.• 1200participantsatannual4-dayGeneralAssembly(GA)gathering.• $20Memployeebenefitplansand$125MretirementplanthroughEPCBenefitResources,Inc.(www.epc.org/benefits).

• 20devotedstaffintheOfficeoftheGeneralAssembly(OGA).

CollaborativeMinistries

$1,030,000

39%

CustodialOperations

$890,000

34%

ConnectionalSupport

$730,000

27%

Weadvanceourmissionandvision

bettertogetherthanalone.

Wepoolourresourcesforgreatestleverage

andimpact.

SourceofFunds:“PerMemberAsking”(PMA)

contributionsfromEPCchurchesgiving79%

oftheaskedamountof$23permember.

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EPCOverview—NationalLeadershipTeam(NLT)Summaryof2018–2019MinistryYear

1. StrategicPriorities.ContinuedtooverseetheEPCmissionandourvisionwhich

entailsfourstrategicpriorities:1)Transformation(churchrevitalization),2)Multiplication(churchplanting),3)EffectiveBiblicalLeadership,and4)GlobalMovement(WorldOutreachandfraternalrelations).TheNLTrecommendsamendingRulesforAssemblythatwouldupdatethefunctionsoftheNLTwithmoreclarityaboutitsroleindiscerningandadvancingtheEPCvision.Tobetterfocusonspecificstrategicpriorities,theNLTrecommendedthattheChurchPlantingandRevitalizationCommitteestandingcommitteebedividedintotwocommittees:1)ChurchPlantingand2)ChurchRevitalization.

2. ExecutiveTransition.ContinuedworkonmanagementsuccessionplanfortheOfficeoftheGeneralAssembly.BeganprocessofreplacingStatedClerkJeffJeremiah,whosefifththree-yeartermconcludesinJuneof2021,byrecommendingaSearchCommitteetorecommendasuccessortobeelectedatthe2020Assembly.OversawtheretirementofCOOPhilVanValkenburgandsuitablesuccessionplan.LaunchedreviewandevaluationofWorldOutreachinanticipationoftheexpecteddepartureofDirectorPhilLintonin2021.

3. FinancialDevelopment.ContinuedtomonitorgivingtoEPCPerMemberAsking(PMA),withconcernthatpastPMAgrowthhasstoppedandisdeclininginthecurrentfiscalyear.Afterrepeatedlywrestlingwithhowtopromotegivingtothenationallevelofourdenomination,theNLTproposedcreationofanadinterimcommitteetoaddresslong-termfundingoftheEPC.Presentedafiscalyear2019-2020operatingbudgetofapproximately$2.65million,includingspendingforstrategicpriorities.

4. Governance.EvaluatedandrecommendedtheexpansionoftheNLTtothe39thGeneralAssembly.BroughtforwardRulesforAssemblyamendments,includingproposedexpansionoftheNLTbythreememberstoimprovepresbyteryrepresentation.RecommendedamendmenttotheBookofGovernmenttoexplicitlyclarifythatthepositionof“Co-Pastor”doesnotexistintheEPC,ashasbeenourunderstoodstancesince1985.

ForacompletereportoftheworkoftheNationalLeadershipTeamduringthe2018–2019ministryyear,seewww.epc.org/committees/reports

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CollaborativeMinistries

CollaborativeMinistriesserveandsupportlocalchurchandpresbyteryinitiativestoachieveoursharedmissionandvisionBetterTogetherthanseparately.

CollaborativeMinistriesBudget

$1,030,000–FY20

GlobalMovement• LeadandadministerWorldOutreach

ministrytotheunreachedpeoples,especiallyMuslims.

• Fraternalrelationswithlike-mindedevangelicalmissionalorganizations.

• ExplorehowandwhereGodmayexpandEPCministryandinfluenceoutsidetheU.S.

Multiplication(ChurchPlanting)• 42activeplantsin19states;including8inunder-

resourcedareas.• Church-plantingcommunityandencouragement.• Churchplanterpipelineanddevelopment.• Church-plantingleadershipteamsupport.• Strategicinvestmentsinunder-reachedandunder-servedareas.Transformation(ChurchRevitalization)• Leveragetheresourcesandimpactofexpertresources,includingtheGOCenter.• Providematchingfundstoaidqualifiedchurches.EffectiveBiblicalLeadership• ProvideLeadershipInstituteattheannualGeneralAssemblyevent.• Facilitate10nationalministryteams/peergatherings.• Recruit,endorse,andprovidepastoralcarefor60chaplains.• Aiddemographicministries:NextGeneration,campus,andWomen.• FacilitatetheworkoftheRevelation7:9TaskForce.

GlobalMovement

$550,000

53%

Multiplication(ChurchPlanting)

$260,000

25%

EffectiveBiblicalLeadership

$150,000

15%

WefacilitateandpromoteourEPCvisionandstrategicpriorities,puttingfundstoworklocallyandglobally.

Transformation(ChurchRevitalization)

$70,000

7%

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CollaborativeMinistries—PermanentandInterimCommitteesSummaryof2018–2019MinistryYear

ChurchPlantingTeam

1. Overview.42activechurchplants(ahealthy7%ofEPCchurches),yettheEPChashitaceilingunlessadifferentstructureandmoresubstantialstaffingisfunded.

2. Retreat.Ledtraining/renewalretreatfor50EPCchurchplantersandspouses,plusmembersoftheChurchPlantingTeamandpresbyteryleaders.

3. Cohorts.Continuedinitialcohortwithfourfirst-orsecond-yearchurchplantersmeetingmonthlywithexperiencedchurchplanterfortraining,support,andprayer.Preparingtolaunchasecondcohortwithsixmorechurchplanters.

4. Obtainedandutilizingachurchplanting“RoadMap”thatprovidesachecklistofimportantorganizational,financial,andlegalrequirementsneededtojump-startinternaloperationsandprotectagainstfutureproblems.

5. UtilizingLeadershipDiagnosticforchurchplantersandpotentiallaunchteams.6. SupportedsevenEPCchurchplantingnetworks;encouragedfurtherdevelopment.7. CelebratedsevenchurchplantsintheU.S.thatachievedlocalchurchstatus.

ChurchRevitalization

1. Developedandreleased“RoadmaptoMissionalVitality”withexpertinputfromPROSCI,agloballeaderinorganizationalchangemanagement.

2. MentoredpresbyteryRevitalizationCoaches.12of14EPCpresbyterieshaveidentifiedCoordinators,asignificantnumberofleadershavecompletedcoachtraining,andmanyareservingonthefieldascoaches.Theseleadersmeetannuallyforequipping,encouragement,andnetworking.

3. ProvidingtrainingintransitionalministrythroughouttheyearandattheGeneralAssemblyLeadershipInstitute.

4. Connectingchurchleaderstoon-siteandonlinetrainingformillennialministry.5. IntroducingwaystoempowerandengageministrybyChristiansintheworkplace.

NextGenerationMinistriesCouncil1. FacilitatedChildrenandFamilyMinistrynetworkingeventsinthreepresbyteries.2. BeganupdatesonNextGenerationMinistriesCouncilpagesonEPCwebsitetomore

accuratelyreflectworkoftheCouncil,aswellasneedsofthosewhousethewebsite.3. Utilizinganonlineemailservicetocompilecontactinformationandcommunicate

moreeffectivelywithEPCchildren,youth,andcollegeministryleaders.4. AddedthreeCCOcampusministrypartnerships:FirstPresbyterianChurch

(Orlando,FL);CovenantEPC(Monroe,LA);CovenantEPC(Jackson,MS).5. ResourcedEPCyouthworkersandcollegestudentswithscholarshipsfortraining,

conferences,andnetworkinginpartnershipwithRYMandCCO.6. CollaboratedwithWorldOutreachtopromoteEPCmissionopportunitiesamong

youthandcollegestudentsandprovidedUrbanascholarships.

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Women’sResourceCouncil(WRC)1. IncreasedsocialmediaparticipationbyEPCwomento500(FacebookandBlog).2. Producedfivevideos,availableonFacebook,theEPCwebsite,andTheWellblog.3. Vettedresourcesforwomeninthelocalchurch,availableatwww.epc.org/thewell.4. SentinformationtoEPCclerksofsessionstointroducetheWRCtolocalchurches,to

solicitdonations,andimprovetrafficonwebsite,blog,andFacebook.WorldOutreachCommittee

1. Launchedmonthlyemailnewsletter,TheReach,replacingtheprintedTheGlobe.2. Startedworkonthreesummermissionsopportunities.3. HostedaweeklongENGAGEevent,resultingintheappointmentof10newEPC

WorldOutreachglobalworkers.4. Oversawredeploymentintoseveralareas,bothgeographicandtactical,including

Indiaandoperatingcommunity-assistingbusinessesasministries.5. Madesignificantprogressinbuildingstrong,well-coordinated,working

partnershipsbetweenallourvarioussub-groups(Co-opandWODirectworkers,Engage2025,ITEN,IBAM,Mobilization,MemberCare).

FraternalRelationsCommittee

1. Pursuedthe2018GAinstructiontoworktodevelopfraternalrelationshipswiththePresbyterianChurchofGhanaandthePresbyterianChurchinIreland.

2. AddressedthefuturecompositionoftheFraternalRelationsCommittee.3. ReceivedupdateonworkoftheEPCdocumentSpanish-translationteam.4. ContinuedtoengagethePresbyterianChurchofMexico(INPM);threeINPM-

ordainedministersareleadingEPCchurchplantsinHispanicneighborhoods.Revelation7:9TaskForce

1. AppointedbytheModeratorattheauthorizationofthe38thGeneralAssembly.2. Metfourtimestogetherasawholeteam.3. Conductedadenomination-widesurveyofseniorandsolopastors.4. PresentedtheTaskForce’sworkandheld“listeningsessions”ateachpresbytery.5. MetwithvariousEPCgroupstolistentotheirideas,hopes,andconcernsaboutthe

EPCbecomingaRevelation7:9denomination.6. CompiledthedatafromallofthelisteningteamsandcreatedanInterimReportwith

summaryfindings.7. Begantomeetwithexpertsincross-culturalministrytodetermineorganizational

bestpractices.

Forcompletereportsoftheworkofthesecommitteesduringthe2018–2019ministryyear,seewww.epc.org/committees/reports

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ConnectionalSupport

ConnectionalSupportMinistriesensurethatEPCconstitutionalmandatesuniteandalignchurches,sessions,presbyteries,andcommitteeswiththeGeneralAssembly—BetterTogetherthanseparately.

ConnectionalSupportBudget

$730,000–FY20

RelationalCommitments• Providefabricandforcetoconnect

theEPC:annualGAbusinesssessionsandrecords;ministry,judicial,andspecialcommittees;adviceandcounsel.

• LiaisonandresourcetopresbyteryStatedClerks.

• Prepareforexecutiveleadershiptransitions.GeneralAssemblyEventManagement• Planandcoordinateallarrangementswithhostchurch.• Providecost-effectiveandfriendlyvenueforEPCbusiness,

worship,equipping,andbonding.CommunicationsandDevelopment• InformandinspireallintheEPCtoupholdourethosandbetterachieveourmission

andvision.• ProvideEPCmaterialsforchurchestomakeandbuildChrist-followersanddevelopleaders.• PromotemissionalandfinancialalignmentandcommitmentthroughouttheEPC.• Website,EPConnection,publicandmediarelations,crisiscommunicationssupport,

directedemail,JeremiahJournalvideoblog,socialmedia,otherdigitalcommunications.Committees• Travelandmeettoplanandachievemoreofourvisionandmissiontogetherthanifdone

separately.

RelationalCommitments

$300,000

41%

CommitteeMeetingsandSupport

$175,000

24%

CommunicationsandDevelopment

$175,000

24%

WeplanandsupportactivitiesandactionsthatprotectandbindustogethertocarryoutourmissionBetterTogetherasaconnectionalsystem.

GeneralAssemblyEventManagement

$80,000

11%

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ConnectionalSupport—PermanentandInterimCommitteesSummaryof2018–2019MinistryYear

ChaplainsWorkandCareCommittee

1. Providedfiveecclesiasticalendorsementsforbothcivilianandmilitarychaplaincy,increasingthetotalnumberofchaplainsto60,with30eachinmilitaryandcivilianvenues.Thisgrowthfrom36in2012,with6moreinthepipeline,causedmuchincreasedworkfortheEndorser.

2. Duetogrowth,recommendedthattheCWCCincreasefromsixtoninemembers.3. TheCWCCandEndorserrevisedmultipleformsforEndorsementApplication,

improvingtheprocessintoamuchclearerformat;resultshavebeennotable.4. Accomplishedaveryeffective2018Chaplain’sWorkshopwith38chaplainsin

attendanceplus70otherGAattendeesforpartoftheevent.5. Approvedproposalthatnew,marriedapplicantsforCivilianChaplaincy

EndorsementberequiredtotakePrepare/Enrichasiscurrentlyrequiredformilitaryapplicants.

6. Endorsercompleted19personalvisitssincethe38thGeneralAssembly,essentiallymeetingtheexpectationthathevisitchaplainsinpersonatleastonceeverythreeyears.

7. Committeemembersmaintainedpersonalpastoralcontactwithagroupofchaplains.

8. EndorserrepresentedtheEPC,CWCC,andchaplainsinassociationswithwhichthedenominationhasaffiliationaswellasatsixprofessionalconferences.

MinisterialVocationCommittee

1. MinisterialCommittees:WorkedwiththegatheredChairsofpresbyteryMinisterialandCandidatesCommitteesattwo,two-daymeetings.

2. Churchwell-being:Withpresbyteryleaders,assistedwiththeimmediateneedsofseveralEPCpastorsandEPCchurches.Thisincludedofferingintervention,guidance,counseling,coaching,ormonetaryhelpincrisissituations.

3. Denominationalresources:CreatedworkingteamstorevieworupdateourEPCresources.ScopeincludesPositionPapers,languagetranslation,ProcedureManual,theologyandBibleexams,LeadershipTrainingGuide,andstandardizationofITandresourceplatforms.

4. TeachingEldercandidates:Oversawandmanagedthegradingoftheordinationexamsfor47presbyteryTEcandidates.InterviewedsixCEEPapplicants(CandidatesEducationalEquivalencyProgram)forordinationandmaderecommendationstotheirlocalpresbyteries.

5. Churchtransitions:Withpresbyteries,reviewedandmanagedseveraltransitionalpastorsituationsandresources.WorkedonroleclarificationandcommunicationswithseveralpastoralsearchfirmsthatworkwiththeEPC.

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NominatingCommittee1. NominatedModeratorandModerator-electfor2019.2. Reviewedvacanciesandneedsofvariouscommittees.3. ProposedslateofnomineesforPermanentCommitteesforapprovalbythe2019

GeneralAssembly.PermanentJudicialCommission

1. ConsideredissueinPresbyteryoftheEastandmadearecommendation.Consideredthejurisdictionalissuepresentedinthissituation.

2. ReviewedoverturesfromtwopresbyteriestoamendBookofGovernment.3. ReviewedoverturefromtheNationalLeadershipTeam(NLT)toamendBookof

Governmentexpresslyaffirmingthattheofficeof“co-pastor”isnotaconstitutionallyrecognizedcallinginalocalchurch.

PresbyteryReviewCommittee

1. Providedstructure,order,andcontinuityinreviewingtheminutesofthepresbyteries.

2. Tworeadersreviewedminutesofall13presbyteriesandthewholecommitteereviewedthosefindings.

3. Finalizedreportforpresentationatthe2019GeneralAssembly.

Forcompletereportsoftheworkofthesecommitteesduringthe2018–2019ministryyear,seewww.epc.org/committees/reports

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CustodialOperations

CustodialOperationsensureprudentstewardship,protection,andmanagementofEPCassets,integrity,finances,information,andemployees.

CustodialOperationsBudget

$890,000–FY20

OfficeOperationsandManagement• SupportallEPCfunctions,entities,

employees,systems,andchurcheseffectivelyandefficiently.

• Provideofficespace,equipment,supplies,transactionfees.

FinanceandAdministration• Protectfinancialandpersonnelintegrity

oftheOfficeoftheGeneralAssembly.• StewardcontributionstobestservetheEPCas

commissionedbytheGAanddesignatedbydonors.• ProvideservicesforWorldOutreach(www.epcwo.org)

andBRI(www.epc.org/benefits).• Administerthe$800,000ChurchLoanFund.

TechnologyInfrastructure• Providedata,voice,andaudio/videotoolsandsystemstoboostproductivityandeffectiveness

ofcommitteesandtheOfficeoftheGeneralAssemblystaff.• Manageinformationtoservechurchesandfulfillourmission.• Overseeeffectiveandsecureuseof100%cloud-basedsystems,network,andhardware.

RiskManagement• Maintainproperfinancialauditsandinsurancecoverage.• UtilizelegalexpertisewhenneededtoprotectEPCassets,people,interests,andoperational

freedom.• Overseethreeconnectedbutseparatelegalentities,includingBRIandWorldOutreach,

tomitigateliabilities.

OfficeOperationsandManagement

$360,000

40%

TechnologyInfrastructure

$200,000

23%

RiskManagement

$60,000

7%

Wesupplyessentialsupportfunctionsthatprotectthe

integrityandboostefficiencyofourglobaloperations.

FinanceandAdministration

$270,000

30%

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CustodialOperations—PermanentandInterimCommitteesSummaryof2018–2019MinistryYear

BenefitResources,Inc.,(BRI)BoardofDirectors

1. HealthandWellness:a) Covered3,589livesinthe$20millionEPCMedicalPlan,including313pastors

and1,000churchstaff(andtheir2,276dependents).b) PrudentlymanagedMedicalPlanuseofsomeour$5-6millionreservefunds.c) ImplementednewMedicalPlanBronzelevelandadjustedbenefitsatalllevels.d) InstallednewWellnessPlanincentivesavailabletoallEPCTEs.e) AdoptednewPrescriptionDrugcostmanagement,tosave$150,000-$200,000.f) NegotiatednewStop-Losscoveragewithprojectedsavingsofupto$300,000.g) TransitionedtonewHSAadministrators.h) Negotiatedbetterpharmacynetworkdiscounts,rebates,administrationfees.i) Negotiated30+%reductionHighmarkBCBSadministrativefees.

2. RetirementSecuritya) Provided403(b)(9)Planto2,126participantswithassetstotaling$125million.b) Reducedadministrativefeesonsmalleraccountstoeasecostfornewsavers.c) Replacedoneunder-performingfundandaddedthe2065targetdatefund.

3. AdministrationandCommunicationsa) Initiated“ForyourBenefit,”arecurringmembercommunicationschannel.b) Built/improvedcomprehensivedatabasetoeffectivelyconnectwith

participants,benefitadministrators,andnon-participatingchurches.c) Forbenefitadministrators,updatedAdministratorHandbook,addedwebsite

resources,createdEPCBenefitwelcomepackagefornewchurches.

GenerosityResourcesCommittee1. RebrandedtheEPCFoundationtoGenerosityResourcestohelpunlocknon-cash

giving.2. CreatedanddisseminatedavideotopresentthenewGenerosityResourcesname,

mission,andvaluetoEPCchurches.3. Sharpenedfocusonhelpingchurchesfundtheirmissionandvisionbysimplifying

accesstomorecomplex,non-traditionalfundingsources.4. Introducedlegacyplanningresourcesviathreerecommendedpartnerministries.5. Presentedtopresbyteriestoevaluatethemessageandaudiencereceptivity.6. RecruitingvolunteerswithineachpresbyterytorepresentGenerosityResources

andpromotewaystohelpchurchesfundtheirmission,vision,andoperations.

Forcompletereportsoftheworkofthesecommitteesduringthe2018–2019ministryyear,seewww.epc.org/committees/reports

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Conclusion

ContributionstotheEPCof$23permemberarepooledtohelpusaccomplishministrythatcanbedone“BetterTogether”thancouldberealizedseparately.ThisremindsusofanAfricanproverb:“Ifyouwanttorunfast,runalone.Ifyouwanttorunfar,runtogether.”TheBibleprovideswitnesstothistruthinboththeOldandNewTestamentsofhowChrist’sfollowersandchurchesareBetterTogether:

“Twoarebetterthanone,becausetheyhaveagoodrewardfortheirtoil.Foriftheyfall,onewillliftuphisfellow.Butwoetohimwhoisalonewhenhefallsandhasnotanothertolifthimup!Again,iftwolietogether,theykeepwarm,buthowcanonekeepwarmalone?Andthoughamanmightprevailagainstonewhoisalone,twowillwithstandhim—athreefoldcordisnotquicklybroken”(Ecclesiastes4:9–12).“Forjustaseachofushasonebodywithmanymembers,andthesemembersdonotallhavethesamefunction,soinChristwe,thoughmany,formonebody,andeachmemberbelongstoalltheothers”(Romans12:4-5).“Justasabody,thoughone,hasmanyparts,butallitsmanypartsformonebody,soitiswithChrist.Evensothebodyisnotmadeupofonepartbutofmany”(1Corinthians12:12,14).

ThankyouforyourgeneroussupportoftheministriesoftheEPCasweserve“BetterTogether.”

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

EvangelicalPresbyterianChurch5850T.G.LeeBlvd.,Suite510

Orlando,FL32822407-930-4239info@epc.orgwww.epc.org