FRATERNAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The Fraternal Relations Committee report to the 45th General Assembly of its work during 2024-2025, plus recommendations for consideration by the Assembly.

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Summary of Work
Summary of Recommendations
Work of the Committee
Recommendations (Detailed)
Committee Members
Meeting Dates

Alan Trafford

Chairman
TE, Presbytery of the Gulf South

SUMMARY OF WORK

1. The Committee takes as its charge to Identify, Develop, and Implement relationships with other bodies of Christians that will promote the Lordship of Jesus Christ, the unity of His Body, and the strengthening of the Kingdom of God on earth. (84-06).

2. The Committee’s remit covers: • Ecumenical Relationships: National Association of Evangelicals; World Reformed Fellowship. • Domestic Relationships: Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; Christian Reformed Church; Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. • International Relationships – Pending: Presbyterian Church in Ireland. • International Relationships – Existing: St. Andrew’s Presbytery, Argentina; UNEPREF – National Union of French Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches; Evangelical Reformed Church of Kazakhstan; Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar; Presbyterian Church of Brazil (IPB); Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM); and, Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Sierra Leone.

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RECOMMENDATIONS

45-07 The Fraternal Relations Committee recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve the revised Articles of Agreement with the St. Andrew’s Presbytery of Argentina through 2030.

45-08 Recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve entering into a formal Fraternal Relationship with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (as described in Acts of Assembly 12-10. 1a)

45-09 The Fraternal Relations Committee recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve the ‘Affirmation of Fraternal and Confessional Relations between the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.’

45-46 The Fraternal Relations Committee recommends that the 45th General Assembly withdraw its formal fraternal relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar; and that future relationships be through the World Reformed Fellowship.

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WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

1. Having been in conversation with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland for several years, the Committee is pleased to recommend a formal fraternal relationship between the denominations. We bring the Affirmation of Fraternal and Confessional Relations for the Assembly’s consideration. We expect that, as the relationship deepens, this document will form the basis of a more detailed Memorandum of Understanding.

2. The Committee has been developing the fraternal relationship with UNEPREF, the National Union of French Protestant Reformed Evangelical Churches. Members of the EPC’s Church Planting Team are assisting with a new church development in Bordeaux. We would like to encourage partnerships between UNEPREF congregations and local EPCs. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two denominations should be ready to be brought to next year’s GA.

3. Having worked with representatives of the St. Andrew’s Presbytery of Argentina, we are pleased to recommend an updated version of the Articles of Agreement through 2030.

4. Since we have not been able to contact representatives of The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar for several years, effectively, no reciprocal relationship exists. We are recommending that the EPC withdraw from a formal fraternal relationship, but that we maintain contact through the World Reformed Fellowship.

5. The Committee has been in contact with the Synod of the Nile in Egypt. Representatives will, God willing, attend the 45th General Assembly.

6. The Committee welcomed a growing relationship with La Iglesia Evangelica de los Pinos Nuevos in Cuba, especially the introduction of experienced Cuban Church Planters to the EPC. However, the Committee will not be pursuing a fraternal relationship at this time.

7. Our partners in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Sierra Leone continue to experience significant growth, particularly among the Muslim community. The Committee encourages churches and presbyteries to support the work of EduNations in Sierra Leone.

8. On behalf of the committee, TE Josh Hammans has been translating various documents so that these can be made available to fraternal partners and others as appropriate. We have seen the need for Constitutional documents and training materials in various languages, including Spanish, French, Korean, and Arabic.

9. The Committee continues to work with the Office of the General Assembly to invite, welcome, and serve fraternal guests to the Assembly.

10. The Committee has maintained informal relations with the following denominations: the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA).

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RECOMMENDATIONS (DETAILED)

RECOMMENDATION 45-07

Recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve the revised Articles of Agreement with the St. Andrew’s Presbytery of Argentina through 2030.

Rationale:
Acts of the Assembly 09-03 defines the agreement with longtime, highly valued Fraternal Partner, the St. Andrew’s Presbytery of Argentina. The existing Articles of Agreement expire in 2025. Representatives of both bodies have been working to update this Agreement, which is now presented for approval. (The document is appended).

RECOMMENDATION 45-08

Recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve entering into a formal Fraternal Relationship with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (as described in ‘Acts of Assembly’ 12- 10.1a).

Rationale:
Concurrent with Acts of the Assembly 84-06, the Permanent Committee on Fraternal Relations proposes to act upon an instruction from the General Assembly (Acts of the Assembly 94-03), concerning our relationship with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. We believe that a formal relationship would be profitable for both denominations in carrying out the Great Commission, commensurate with Acts of the Assembly 12-10.1a.

RECOMMENDATION 45-09

Recommends that the 45th General Assembly approve the ‘Affirmation of Fraternal and Confessional Relations between the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.’

Rationale:
The Permanent Committee on Fraternal Relations recommends the following document as a letter of intent, upon which a more detailed Memorandum of Understanding will be developed.

Affirmation of Fraternal and Confessional Relations between the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (USA)

Compelled by the clear teaching of Scripture that the body of Christ acts for his glory in its mutual support and cooperation, and acknowledging our common confessional heritage within the reformed tradition, the following is affirmed by the General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, meeting in Belfast, Northern Ireland from 10-12 June 2025, and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (USA) meeting in Detroit, Michigan, from 17-19 June 2025.

We each, through our various agencies and courts, will seek tangible ways to express our commonality of purpose in witnessing to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

These expressions may include:

Invitations for appointed representatives of each denomination from time to time, to attend and exchange fraternal greetings at meetings of their General Assemblies.
Opportunities for ministers in training to benefit from exchange visits and other means of educational cooperation, for the enrichment of their preparation for ordination and service.
Consultation between office-holders, and practical cooperation where appropriate, on matters of mutual concern in mission and ministry, including (but not limited to) local mission, overseas partnerships, public policy, and the wider mission of the Church of Christ.
The mutual sharing of published resources and research, sharing models of best practice, and other insights for the enhancement of the life and witness of our churches.
Possibilities for short-term mission-team visits and other similar ventures to be mutually supported, as appropriate.
Encouragement of bi-lateral bonds of fellowship between congregations of both denominations, including prayerful and relational support, pulpit exchanges, and visits.

RECOMMENDATION 45-46

Recommends that the 45th General Assembly withdraw its formal fraternal relationship with The Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar, and that future relationships be through the World Reformed Fellowship.

Rationale:
The Permanent Committee on Fraternal Relations evaluated the relationship between the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Madagascar and found no evidence that the relationship, as defined in Acts of the Assembly 16-07 was in practice. Numerous attempts to contact representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Madagascar were unsuccessful. As a result, the committee does not believe this relationship meets the criteria for Fraternal Relations established in Acts of the Assembly 12-10. However, relations may still be maintained through the World Reformed Fellowship.

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