Denomination Information
Catch up recently what our congregation and pastors have done. In August of 2006 we left our denomination- PCUSA. We are now a part of EPC- Evangelical Presbyterian Church through New Wineskins. Got questions or want to know more, take a look at what has happened in the last year.
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The Kirk Joins EPC!
The Kirk has officially been accepted into the New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church! This non-geographic presbytery was created at last June’s General Assembly of the E.P.C. and is made up of former PCUSA churches who are also a part of the New Wineskins Association of Churches.
Based on their previous status as ordained ministers, Tom (PCUSA), Wayne (PCUSA), and Jeff (Evangelical Free Church) have also been accepted as pastor-members of the new presbytery. Dan and Sean will be participating in the ordination process which includes several levels of examination.
The first meeting of the new presbytery will be October 28-30 in Sacramento, CA. Attending the meeting from Kirk of the Hills will be Wayne Hardy, Dan Bair, Sean Farver, John Haley, Diana Haley, and Burl Watson. Please keep this meeting and these Kirk representatives in prayer.
State of the Kirk
On August 29, 2007 we had a 1-year review. Please take a look at some pictures and slides to see what has happened in the last year.
EOP's Administrative Report of Kirk of the Hills from March 6, 2007
Administrative Report of Kirk of the Hills
Motion for Summary Judgment with Exhibits
This was filed on January 22 of this year. Essentially, it asks the judge to make his decision based upon the information that has been presented.
Motion for Summary Judgment Document
Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery’s response
EOP responded to our request by asking for more information from us (the “discovery process”). Note that this list of 94 separate requests is entitled “Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery’s First Interrogatories and First Request for Production of Documents” (emphasis added).
Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery's Response- FIRST
Petition to the court
This document is our original suit to have the affidavit removed from the Kirk’s property. This went to court because the Presbytery, upon our request, refused to do so, therefore placing impediments to the clear ownership of our property.
Petition to the court Document
PCUSA Response and Counterclaim Response
The PC (USA) response and counterclaim to our initial petition lays out their claim that they own the Kirk land, buildings, and everything in the buildings (excluding, one hopes, the pastoral staff).
PCUSA Response and Counterclaim Response
It is our hope that linking these will serve several purposes.
1. We have nothing to hide in this process and believe that as much as possible should be shared.
2. The Kirk’s membership should be allowed to read these documents for themselves.
3. There may be other churches who can benefit from some of our experience in this process. Note that laws regarding property are judged differently in each state, so what is presented here is focused on Oklahoma laws.
Good reading!
Previous Denominational News...
Denominational News
On August 15, 2006, Session of Kirk of the Hills voted to disaffiliate with PCUSA (Presbyterian Church USA) denomination. Additionally, the Session and the Trustees of Kirk of Hills voted to file a "Quiet Title" action in order to clear the title to Kirk of the Hills property. The title was clouded by and affidavit filed in March by the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery. Session took this action in response to the publication on the Layman's website (www.layman.org) of the PCUSA's legal strategy. All members are encouraged to read this publication or at least the summary points. You may read the entire paper and the summary on the link below.
Evangelical Presbyterian Church
New Wineskins Initiative
The New Wineskins initiative is a movement in the Presbyterian denomination that is working to move the church back to the fundamental principles from which the Presbyterian church came. To this end, the initiative has reaffirmed the basic tenets of reformed faith, the adherence strict ethical imperatives, and a revised structure of church government.
Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith
Declaration of Ethical Imperatives
Tom Gray's report before General Assembly
2006 New Wineskins Order Form- click here to order Audio & DVD of '06 Convo here at the Kirk
Verse of the Day
