[US10:25] Denominational Discernment

[Adam Myers]

Hey US,

I wanted to take this opportunity to first thank all of you that have been
in prayer for our church and our session.  The amount of prayer blanketing
the church was evident.  I enjoyed a great day of prayer during some lawn
mowing and weed eating time yesterday even.  (Prayer retreats come in all
forms!)  For those of you not able to attend the meeting, I also wanted to
share the results with you.

In the called congregational meeting, we were voting on the recommendation
of the session to seek dismissal from the Wabash Valley Presbytery of the
Presbyterian Church USA, and to be granted full membership into the Midwest
Presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).  This measure was
affirmed by our congregation in an overwhelming fashion.  574 members cast
ballots today.  Of that number, 513 were yes votes in support of the
measure.  This is nearly 91%, and only a simple majority was needed.  44
ballots were cast as no votes, 9 as abstentions, and 8 ballots were fouled
in some way and were not able to be counted (double markings would be an
example of fouling).  The Administrative Commission will now take this to
the presbytery for the official process of dismissal.  While we still have
to sort through many different things and prayer is still needed, there is a
great sense of a weight being lifted from the congregation and staff over
this vote being completed.

I also wanted to share one other item noted by several of us present.  As
with all matters of congregational business, a time for discussion is part
of the process of taking a vote such as this.  This discussion was an area
that could have provided for a great deal of division, or hard feelings.
Today, when asked for discussion on this measure, no one shared any
discussion whatsoever.  As the discussion was called for, I truly sensed the
Holy Spirit settling in over the congregation, ushering in God's peace
during this discussion.  After the results were announced by the
administrative commission, there was a sense of relief that was felt
throughout the room.  People were very sensitive to others, and the most
expression that I heard were sighs of relief.

Throughout all of this day, from the beginning of practice for the worship
service, clear through leaving the church after the meeting was complete,
the presence of the Lord was felt.  It is by His power alone that we have
come this far, and by His power, we can still remain a family of God,
worshiping together.

I close with the same phrase that was shared by Dick and Phyllis Boehning
today in their testimony at church.  God is good all the time.  All the
time, God is good.

In His grip,
Adam
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