Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church is a small Reformed Christian denomination
. In September 2010 it had five centres - Brisbane, Londonderry (Sydney), Cohuna, Vic. (preaching station), Launceston and Winnaleah (NE Tasmania) with a small school at Herrick near Winnaleah.
The EPC was constituted in Launceston
, Tasmania
on 29 September 1961 with a doctrinal basis identical to the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
, three of whose ministers formed a special Presbytery for the purpose of ordaining the first three ministers. Its first ministers Reverends Charles Rodman, Eric Turnbull and Hugh McNeilly had been ordained the previous night.
The denomination was originally called the Reformed Evangelical Church, but in 1966 changed its name because according to the church's official history "it was found that Australian society was not familiar with the term 'reformed' in its historical and church connection. Many associated the word with reform or correctional schools for example."
The creation of the EPC was part of a revival in Reformed and Calvinist theology
among Australian evangelical Christians from the 1950s.
, but rejects common grace
and the concept of God having unfulfilled desires for the salvation of the reprobate. That is, the EPC denies that God has any attitude of love or favour to the non-elect in the free offer of the gospel
.
The EPC is also committed to the biblically regulated worship set forth in Westminster Confession of Faith
and exemplified in the Directory of Public Worship
. This is interpreted to maintain exclusive psalmody
and exclude musical instruments in worship.
The EPC's witness has included political action on moral issues such as making submissions to government on observing the Christian Sabbath and gambling
and protesting against what it sees as anti-Christian activities, such as the rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar. It supports Bible translation through the Chinese Translation Society (formerly the Reformation Translation Fellowship), and Christian missions in places such as Uganda
and the Middle East
. Family and young people's camps and studies have been regularly held in Australia.
, Presbyterian and Methodist churches in Australia, had departed from fundamental Christian truths and contained too much spiritual compromise. Instead they embraced the Reformed faith although its inclusion of infant baptism
was problematic for some and at Easter 1961 the Reverend J L Lincolne, former principal of the WEC International
College in Launceston left the fellowship and established a new college and congregation based on the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
.
Early encouragement from the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
(popularly known as "the Free Church") was significant in shaping the emerging EPC community. After contemplating joining, the leaders did not proceed with an actual union but there was a desire to continue a fruitful ecumenical relationship with it and other reformed churches. However the largely Anglo
EPC saw too many doctrinal, worship style, lifestyle and cultural differences to work closely with the Reformed Church of Australia populated as it was largely by Post-war migrants from the Netherlands
.
The PCEA contributed to the training of EPC ministers through the John Knox Theological College operated 1963-65 out of the East St Kilda PCEA, but by 1964 the EPC was in significant conflict with the PCEA over the free offer of the gospel
, as presented by Professor John Murray and Ned Stonehouse in their booklet on the subject. Some of the EPC congregations split with some members from Penguin
joining the PCEA in 1965 with their minister Eric Turnbull. (Turnbull was removed from the PCEA ministry in 1979 because of his teaching that the King James Bible was the pure word of God over against other translations, and subsequently formed the Australian Free Church
.) Some from Winnaleah joined the PCEA in 1971 after some years independent but returned in 1979. Controversy win the EPC was evident for a number of years. Some considered that the EPC were reacting in a rationalistic way from their previous free will (Arminian) theology
, and that they preached the Bible according to the doctrine rather than the doctrine to the Bible. Two ministers withdrew to form the Southern Presbyterian Church
in 1986. In 1991 the Covenant Presbyterian Church
in Sydney, which had resulted from a schism from the PCEA Western Sydney in 1981, was received into the EPC. In September 2002 the Rockhampton congregation and its minister withdrew to become Grace Presbyterian Church which united in 2009 with the Australian Free Church
.
In 2008 the EPC apologised to the PCEA Synod for the hurt caused by accusation of schismatic conduct by the PCEA in 1965 concerning the reception of the Penguin (now Ulverstone) congregation. Relationships in Tasmania have significantly improved.
EPC ministers train at the Seminary of the Protestant Reformed Churches in Michigan USA. While there are differences on some matters with the Protestant Reformed Churches the two denominations agree on the rejection of common grace.
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
. In September 2010 it had five centres - Brisbane, Londonderry (Sydney), Cohuna, Vic. (preaching station), Launceston and Winnaleah (NE Tasmania) with a small school at Herrick near Winnaleah.
The EPC was constituted in Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
on 29 September 1961 with a doctrinal basis identical to the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia is a Presbyterian denomination which was formed in Sydney on 10 October 1846 by three ministers and a ruling elder...
, three of whose ministers formed a special Presbytery for the purpose of ordaining the first three ministers. Its first ministers Reverends Charles Rodman, Eric Turnbull and Hugh McNeilly had been ordained the previous night.
The denomination was originally called the Reformed Evangelical Church, but in 1966 changed its name because according to the church's official history "it was found that Australian society was not familiar with the term 'reformed' in its historical and church connection. Many associated the word with reform or correctional schools for example."
The creation of the EPC was part of a revival in Reformed and Calvinist theology
Calvinism
Calvinism is a Protestant theological system and an approach to the Christian life...
among Australian evangelical Christians from the 1950s.
Faith and Practice
The EPC professes adherence to the Westminster StandardsWestminster Standards
The Westminster Standards is a collective name for the documents drawn up by the Westminster Assembly. These include the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Westminster Shorter Catechism, the Westminster Larger Catechism, the Directory of Public Worship, and the Form of Church Government, and...
, but rejects common grace
Common grace
Common Grace is a theological concept in Protestant Christianity, primarily in Reformed and Calvinistic circles, referring to the grace of God that is either common to all humankind, or common to everyone within a particular sphere of influence...
and the concept of God having unfulfilled desires for the salvation of the reprobate. That is, the EPC denies that God has any attitude of love or favour to the non-elect in the free offer of the gospel
Free offer of the gospel
The free offer of the Gospel refers to the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ to all people. It is generally accepted by Calvinists, but rejected by a few small Reformed denominations, such as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Australia and the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, and also...
.
The EPC is also committed to the biblically regulated worship set forth in Westminster Confession of Faith
Westminster Confession of Faith
The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. Although drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly, largely of the Church of England, it became and remains the 'subordinate standard' of doctrine in the Church of Scotland, and has been...
and exemplified in the Directory of Public Worship
Directory of Public Worship
The Directory for Public Worship was a manual of directions for worship approved by an ordinance of Parliament early in 1645 to replace the Book of Common Prayer .-Origins:The movement against the Book of Common...
. This is interpreted to maintain exclusive psalmody
Exclusive psalmody
Exclusive psalmody is the particular worship practice of several small Protestant denominations worldwide which use a metrical version of the Book of Psalms from the Bible as the only manual of songs that may be sung in their services...
and exclude musical instruments in worship.
The EPC's witness has included political action on moral issues such as making submissions to government on observing the Christian Sabbath and gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
and protesting against what it sees as anti-Christian activities, such as the rock opera, Jesus Christ, Superstar. It supports Bible translation through the Chinese Translation Society (formerly the Reformation Translation Fellowship), and Christian missions in places such as Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Family and young people's camps and studies have been regularly held in Australia.
Relationships with other denominations
The EPC was formed because its members believed the large mainstream denominations from which they had come, including the BaptistBaptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
, Presbyterian and Methodist churches in Australia, had departed from fundamental Christian truths and contained too much spiritual compromise. Instead they embraced the Reformed faith although its inclusion of infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
was problematic for some and at Easter 1961 the Reverend J L Lincolne, former principal of the WEC International
WEC International
WEC International is a mission agency which focuses on church planting, and emphasises the importance of shared life in a local church as a vital expression of Christian life...
College in Launceston left the fellowship and established a new college and congregation based on the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
1689 Baptist Confession of Faith
The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith was written by Particular Baptists, who held to a Calvinistic Soteriology in England to give a formal expression of their Christian faith from a Baptist perspective...
.
Early encouragement from the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia
The Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia is a Presbyterian denomination which was formed in Sydney on 10 October 1846 by three ministers and a ruling elder...
(popularly known as "the Free Church") was significant in shaping the emerging EPC community. After contemplating joining, the leaders did not proceed with an actual union but there was a desire to continue a fruitful ecumenical relationship with it and other reformed churches. However the largely Anglo
Anglo
Anglo is a prefix indicating a relation to the Angles, England or the English people, as in the terms Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-American, Anglo-Celtic, Anglo-African and Anglo-Indian. It is often used alone, somewhat loosely, to refer to people of British Isles descent in The Americas, Australia and...
EPC saw too many doctrinal, worship style, lifestyle and cultural differences to work closely with the Reformed Church of Australia populated as it was largely by Post-war migrants from the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
The PCEA contributed to the training of EPC ministers through the John Knox Theological College operated 1963-65 out of the East St Kilda PCEA, but by 1964 the EPC was in significant conflict with the PCEA over the free offer of the gospel
Free offer of the gospel
The free offer of the Gospel refers to the offer of salvation in Jesus Christ to all people. It is generally accepted by Calvinists, but rejected by a few small Reformed denominations, such as the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Australia and the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, and also...
, as presented by Professor John Murray and Ned Stonehouse in their booklet on the subject. Some of the EPC congregations split with some members from Penguin
Penguin, Tasmania
Penguin is a town in the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is located in the Central Coast Council Local Government Area on the Bass Highway, between Burnie and Ulverstone. At the 2006 census, Penguin had a population of 2,943....
joining the PCEA in 1965 with their minister Eric Turnbull. (Turnbull was removed from the PCEA ministry in 1979 because of his teaching that the King James Bible was the pure word of God over against other translations, and subsequently formed the Australian Free Church
Australian Free Church
Australian Free Church is a Presbyterian denomination in Australia. It was established in 1979 when Eric Turnbull was removed from being a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia...
.) Some from Winnaleah joined the PCEA in 1971 after some years independent but returned in 1979. Controversy win the EPC was evident for a number of years. Some considered that the EPC were reacting in a rationalistic way from their previous free will (Arminian) theology
Arminianism
Arminianism is a school of soteriological thought within Protestant Christianity based on the theological ideas of the Dutch Reformed theologian Jacobus Arminius and his historic followers, the Remonstrants...
, and that they preached the Bible according to the doctrine rather than the doctrine to the Bible. Two ministers withdrew to form the Southern Presbyterian Church
Southern Presbyterian Church (Australia)
The Southern Presbyterian Church is a small denomination with a community of about 150 persons located exclusively in Tasmania, Australia. It formed in 1986 when two ministers and a number of members left the Evangelical Presbyterian Church because of a difference of belief over doctrinal issues.As...
in 1986. In 1991 the Covenant Presbyterian Church
Covenant Presbyterian Church
The Covenant Presbyterian Church is a Presbyterian denomination with 13 member churches in the US.- External links :* , the official web site...
in Sydney, which had resulted from a schism from the PCEA Western Sydney in 1981, was received into the EPC. In September 2002 the Rockhampton congregation and its minister withdrew to become Grace Presbyterian Church which united in 2009 with the Australian Free Church
Australian Free Church
Australian Free Church is a Presbyterian denomination in Australia. It was established in 1979 when Eric Turnbull was removed from being a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Eastern Australia...
.
In 2008 the EPC apologised to the PCEA Synod for the hurt caused by accusation of schismatic conduct by the PCEA in 1965 concerning the reception of the Penguin (now Ulverstone) congregation. Relationships in Tasmania have significantly improved.
EPC ministers train at the Seminary of the Protestant Reformed Churches in Michigan USA. While there are differences on some matters with the Protestant Reformed Churches the two denominations agree on the rejection of common grace.