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FAQ on ECO Polity FAQ on ECO Polity As we consider joining ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, questions have been raised about how the polity works and how it compares to that of the PC(USA). In an effort to answer these questions and dispel rumors, the session asked Dana Allin, Synod Executive for ECO, to respond to some of these, which he has graciously done below. For more information, click here for a summary of ECO’s polity; click here to view the entire Polity and Discipline document; click here to view the Essential Tenets document. Overview Who wrote ECO’s polity manual? How would you generally describe the rationale behind ECO polity? How do ECO and PC(USA) polity differ? Some have alleged that ECO polity is Baptist or Congregational. Is that true? I have heard ECO polity described as being “missional.” What does that mean? Theology Why did ECO choose to use Essential Tenets as its theological guideline? Does it still use the reformed documents in the PC(USA) Book of Confessions? Is it possible for ECO’s Essential Tenets to ever change or evolve? How would that happen? Does ECO allow for freedom of conscience regarding the Essential Tenets? Will it similar to the practices of the PC(USA)? How might it differ? Are elders required to subscribe to ECO’s Essential Tenets? Why are some phrases in bold font in the Essential Tenets document? Unity and Accountability How are congregations reviewed and held accountable to ECO expectations? ECO has been described as having a “flat organization.” Does that mean that there is no hierarchical accountability? The PC(USA) employed the property trust clause as a means of unity. How will there be unity with this removed in ECO polity? ECO Polity Is it true that it would take less people to sell the church’s property than would be required under PC(USA) polity? Does ECO require “per capita” payments similar to the PC(USA)? What are Mission Affinity Groups? What role do Mission Affinity Groups play within the accountability structure of ECO? What are Pastor Covenant Groups? Are these present in the PC(USA)? Leadership What is the role of the Synod Executive Council? The role of session clerks is not mentioned very often in ECO polity. Do they have a significant function as they do in the PC(USA)? Are presbyteries involved in the process churches use to call their pastors? ECO introduces a new role to the types of clergy in the local congregations, an assistant pastor. What is this role and how is it useful? ECO only allows pastors serving local congregations to vote at the presbytery level. What is the rationale for this standard? Does ECO value parity between pastors and elders at the presbytery level in the same way as the PC(USA)? ECO polity allows for the pastor to operate as the CEO of the congregation. Why has this been added, and is it mandatory? The PC(USA) has committees to encourage diversity in gender and ethnicity on committees. ECO does not. Is that a value, and if so how will it be supported? Discipline ECO’s section on discipline seems very similar to the PC(USA)’s. Is that intentional? Why does ECO allow Double Jeopardy in appeal of judicial decisions? Miscellaneous ECO is a new denomination, and its polity will be tested. How will it provide for authoritative interpretations? In ECO polity the Synod is the highest governing body. Why doesn’t it have any mission function? Page 2 of 14 ECO Polity Is it still possible for PC(USA) congregations to become union congregations with ECO ones? Is there a Directory of Worship in ECO’s constitution? Overview Who wrote ECO’s polity manual? We were privileged on the polity committee to have been led by David Dobler, Executive Presbyter of Alaska Presbytery and Moderator of the 205th General Assembly of the PC(USA). David Dobler, Jim Singleton, and several others were able to help us craft a polity that took us back to our historic roots of connectional Presbyterianism. This was helpful since many had felt PC(USA) polity and practice had become more hierarchical in recent years. The approval of the New Form of Government (nFOG) in the PC(USA), while having the expressed value of giving more flexibility, has in many ways increased the hierarchical nature of the PC(USA). How would you generally describe the rationale behind ECO polity? Presbyterian polity in its history and roots was established to be distinctly different from the Roman Catholic Church. Presbyterians did not want independent churches void of collective wisdom and discipline and support, neither did they desire hierarchical, top-down control of local churches. What they wanted was to set parameters for ministry and operation at wider councils of the church and have lower councils govern themselves within those parameters. The wider councils could support the lower councils to fulfill their mission and provide discipline when congregations were in error. Presbyterianism was set up very similar to the ideals of the United States government (to have national laws and allow as many things as possible to be passed through the state and local level). What ECO has done is to recapture the Presbyterian spirit and ethos of a connectional organization that has shared governmental and disciplinary procedures. There are non- negotiable theological and governmental standards in ECO, which if violated will result in disciplinary action. There are areas in church life where flexibility needs to be afforded on particular non-essential governance strategies. For example, can an associate pastor become the senior pastor? There was good reason that PC(USA) previously said no as they did not want an associate pastor causing division. But even the PC(USA) has now realized there are times when God might be calling the associate pastor to become the senior pastor, allowing the presbytery to grant exemptions. What ECO has simply done in this matter is to still have the presbytery oversee the process of calling a new senior pastor and the presbytery can make the determination if it is appropriate for the associate to be in consideration or not. How do ECO and PC(USA) polity differ? ECO and PC(USA) polity have two fundamental differences. The first difference is PC(USA) polity is set up where the most important organization is the denomination and the local church exists to fulfill the mission of the denomination. There are countless examples of this but one of the main examples is the trust clause. The fundamental constitutional question that the Page 3 of 14 ECO Polity presbyteries must ask when dismissing a congregation is: “How does letting the local church leave the denomination affect the mission of the PC(USA)?” That has been ruled by the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Council to be the most important question, even more important than what is best for the local church to fulfill its God-given mission or the great ends of the church.1 The second fundamental difference is PC(USA) polity has an organizing question, “How can we make sure things do not go wrong?” This is not a bad organizing question, but it tends to put rules above how God is moving. ECO has as its organizing question, “How can we help things go right?” Certainly part of helping things to go right is to have certain foundational rules and parameters, but then allow for freedom and flexibility in a variety of settings covered by accountability. Some have alleged that ECO polity is Baptist or Congregational. Is that true? The reason some have said this is because they allege that wider councils do not have authority over lower ones. This statement is inaccurate as you will see in the answers in the section entitled “Unity and Accountability.” There are various ways that ECO maintains accountability – structurally, financially, and relationally. The second concern that they will cite is that congregations can commission elders and deacons to celebrate the sacraments. This position is actually very similar to the PC(USA)’s office of Certified Ruling Elder. In order to better facilitate the mission and ministry of a presbytery and its congregations, as well as to maximize the gifts of the totality of the body of Christ, it is often advantageous to commission elders and deacons to more extensive levels of service than ordinarily afforded these offices. ECO seeks to mobilize the lay leadership for ministry, which can include responsibilities like pastoral care, preaching, and administering the sacraments. They act under the supervision and accountability of the session and head of staff of their church, and if there is none, they are supervised by the presbytery. To read more, see 2.05. As you read and study ECO documents, you will find that it is firmly grounded in and committed to Reformed theology and Presbyterian polity. I have heard ECO polity described as being “missional.” What does that mean? This is a significant change from what has been seen in PC(USA) polity, but it reflects a missional ecclesiology rather than an attractional one. The difference is found in how ECO and PC(USA) define “church.” A missional ecclesiology recognizes four forms of church. • The first is what ECO calls a micro-expression of church. When Jesus says “where two or three are gathered in my name there I am.” (Matthew 18:20) Jesus is not saying that it takes at least two people to have a quorum for Jesus to bother showing up. Jesus is saying wherever two or three are gathered there is an expression of the body of Christ.
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