Welcome to the

FHPC Family Insights Page

 

INTRODUCTION:

In November 1936, Winston Churchill stood before the United Kingdom’s House of Commons and placed a period at the end of the misguided debate over the nature of the “gathering storm” on the other side of the English Channel: “Owing to past neglect, in the face of the plainest warnings, we have entered upon a period of danger. . . . The era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing and baffling expedience of delays is coming to its close. In its place, we are entering a period of consequences. . . . We cannot avoid this period; we are in it now.”  And, so it is for us once again. 
 

 

BACKGROUND:

After extended research, deliberation and prayer, and in response to certain actions of the General Assembly (G/A) of the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) in Detroit during the summer of 2014 as well as  the denomination’s ongoing departure from traditional Presbyterian theological affirmations, the Session of FHPC approved the following motion on September 30th, 2014: 

 “Session hereby calls our congregation to enter into a dedicated time of discernment through learning, sharing and praying for the specific purpose of exploring the possibility of leaving the PC(USA) and entering into affiliation with another Presbyterian denomination.”

Following this season of discernment the congregation ultimately voted to request that Session continue this discussion at the Presbytery level, a process which is going on even now. 

After an extended period of prayer, soul-searching, and shared discussion Session made the following two recommendations to our family on December 30th, 2015:
 
  • that we “formally request dismissal from the PC(USA)” and;
  • that we “affiliate. . . with ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians)”.

 In keeping with this entire process, and with a deep desire to see our family of faith more fully informed with regards to these matters, we have culled through the great outpouring of reportage and opinion which has followed in the wake of the GA and are providing links here for materials selected to help you obtain as accurate and even-handed a perspective as possible.  Our purpose here is to assist in preparing you to enter fully and knowledgeably into the conversation that is still ongoing among us.   To access the materials click into the links or paste them into your browser.  Print copies of these documents are also available through the church office.

 

LET’S MAKE A DEAL:
If at any time you find yourself overburdened by the mass of this information and overwhelmed by the magnitude of the dilemma with which we are faced, please go directly to the section below labeled “A VOICE OF HOPE.” 
 
 
 
The Newest Additions:
 
 
PRESBYTERY INTERIM REPORT
 
 
PRESBYTERY SURVEY
 
 
 

THE HEARTBREAK OF IT ALL

http://pres-outlook.org/2016/02/my-heart-aches-yet-i-rejoice/

A fine and thoughtful article from the Feb. 16, 2016 “Outlook”  Note: Article contains a link to an equally good piece from a contrary viewpoint. 

 

WE ARE NOT ALONE:

The Decline in PC(USA) membership by the numbers

http://www.layman.org/pcusa-on-track-to-lose-more-than-400k-members-by-2020/

Reported in “The Layman”  Feb.
 
 
A CLEAR VIEW OF THE CHALLENGES:
 
Click here to read “The Presbyterian Challenge”  
By Jill Duffield, Editor of “The Presbyterian Outlook  Feb. 15, 2016

 

 
MOVING FURTHER:
 
An Invitation and Recommendations from our Session
 
Click here to read “December 30“ letter from Session
followed by the attachment referenced in the letter.
 
 
 
 

AN IMPENDING FINANCIAL CRISIS?

Click here to read “Scanlon on Mission Agency” 

From “The Presbyterian Outlook”  Oct. 26, 2015

 

THE IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING WHO WE ARE

https://www.pcusa.org/news/2015/8/7/mid-council-representatives-meet-prior-big-tent-20/

From the PC(USA) website   Aug. 7, 2015

 

A WISE & HELPFUL GUIDE TO BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT IN THESE TIMES

http://www.layman.org/Files/biblicaldiscernmentregardingdenomination1.pdf

Note: Article is from “The Layman”

 

 

WHAT THEY BELIEVE — COMPARING PRESBYTERIAN DENOMINATIONS

Prepared by the PC(USA)

https://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/theologyandworship/epcecopcusa_comparisonchart_1_1_2015.pdf

 

Prepared by “The Layman”

http://www.layman.org/Files/EPCECOPCUSAcomparisonchartsmallerversion.pdf

 
 
 
Family Meeting : Nate Dreesman, Moderator of ECO 

 

01-30-16
MEETING ABOUT ECO  (Click on title for conversation)
 
 
 
 
 
THE CONVERSATIONS WE’VE HAD:
 
 
 

 

Family Meeting : Session 1
 
02-07-15 & 02-08-15
 
We apologize, no recording was made at this meeting, however, a copy of Moderator Sally Atchinson’s introductory comments may be found here. 
 
 
GETTING UP TO SPEED      (Click on title for power-point)
 
 
 
Family Meeting: Session 2 
 
A Visit with Presbytery Exec Brad Munroe
Session 2, Pros and Cons  (Click on title for power-point)
 
 
Family Meeting: Session 3
 
02-14-15
Session 3 Pres Exec Brad Munroe (Click on title for conversation)
 
02-15-15
Session 3 Pros & Cons (Click on title for Conversation)
 
 
Family Meeting: Session 4
 
02-21-15
What they believe  (Click on title for power-point)
 
02-21-15 Part 1
Session 4, What They Think  (Click on title for Conversation)
 
02-21-15 Part 2
Session 4, What They Think  (Click on title for Conversation)
 
02-21-15 Part 3
Session 4, What They Think  (Click on title for Conversation)
 
02-22-15 Part 1
Session 4, What They Think  (Click on title for Conversation)
 
02-22-15 Part 2
Session 4, What They Think  (Click on title for Conversation)
 
 
 
 

AT ISSUE:

 

BY THE NUMBERS – The Current State of the PC(USA):

 

STARTING FROM SOMEWHERE: 

OFFICIAL REPORT FROM THE PC(USA)

http://www.pcusa.org/site_media/media/uploads/oga/pdf/assembly-in-brief-ga221_combined.pdf

 

REPORTAGE FROM “The Presbyterian Outlook” (“An independent biweekly on the PC(USA)”

 

MOVING ON – RESPONSES WE FOUND HELPFUL/INSIGHTFUL:

 

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?  — REFLECTIONS WE APPRECIATED:

 
NEGOTIATING THE POLES:
 
Note: articles are from “The Layman,” a publication of the Presbyterian Lay Committee
 
Note:  article is from “Time Magazine”
 
REGARDING DEPARTURE FROM PC(USA):
 
 
MISCELLANEOUS ADDITIONAL MEDIA REPORTING OF INTEREST 
 
A Variety of Opinions (This is NOT an endorsement for anything/anyone – read at your own risk and with your discernment switch locked in the “on” position):
 
 
AND FINALLY…
 
A VOICE OF HOPE: 

Author and Pastor (Menlo Park PC) John Ortberg gave an address at the launch of The Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO) in 2012 which we have found rich with meaning and inspiration.  He is a compelling speaker and provides much food for thought. He articulates much that is appropriate to our discussion and we wholeheartedly recommend that you take the time (37 minutes) to view it 

 
AND A VOICE OF REASSURANCE:
 
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
Jesus in Mat. 16:8 
 

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

Jesus in John 14:27
 
Blessings on you as you read, pray and reflect. 
Regardless of what goes on around us, we are
still the community that Christ has made us.  And FHPC is still  HIS
church.  He will not abandon us if we abide in him.
Welcome to the conversation.   
 
Grace and Peace,
The Session of FHPC
 

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