Convinced that the EPC is no longer compatible with their beliefs, members of First Artesia Church in New Mexico voted May 4 to leave the denomination. The Letter of Racial Lament and the issue of homosexuality were key issues that caused the church to break away from the EPC, according to Pastor Scott Pettus.
“I spent 25 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and fought in two foreign wars,” said Pettus. “I see a war coming in the EPC over a number of issues. At this time, for our little church, we want to focus our time and funds on other things and not on these battles.”
When Pettus arrived at the Artesia church four years ago, it was a dying congregation with eight people attending worship. Since that time, worship attendance has grown to 50 and is expected to double again this year. Located in a rural community in southeast New Mexico, the church has attracted farmers, ranchers, and young families involved in homeschooling and 4-H. Artesia is the only Reformed church within a 100-mile radius and was one of only three EPC churches in New Mexico.
“They’re looking for reverence and tradition,” said Pettus. “They want liturgical worship, and in-depth preaching and teaching of Scripture. They want to see a Confession that is meaningful and something that has practical application.”
According to Pettus, the first issue that caused alarm in the church was the Letter of Racial Lament. When the General Assembly approved a committee to draft the letter, some of his ruling elders wanted to leave the EPC immediately, without waiting to see the outcome. When the first draft of the letter was published, Pettus said it confirmed their fears that the EPC is embracing a woke worldview.
“It was DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) cloaked in Christian language,” said Pettus. “I believe the first version of the letter showed the real intent, and then the second version was an attempt to smooth it over. Most people I had met in the EPC were quite conservative, so I didn’t understand this issue coming up.”
The Artesia church also was alarmed when the General Assembly approved a committee to study the issue of whether a person who identifies as homosexual but claims to be celibate can be ordained as a church leader. One such pastor, Greg Johnson, is currently seeking to unite with the EPC after his church left the PCA.
“With Greg Johnson, the answer should be an immediate and adamant ‘no,’” said Pettus. “We believe this issue needs no further study or examination. Why do we need a committee to figure out what we believe on this?”
In recent years, the Artesia church has adopted a patriarchal view of Scripture and church government. This, along with the issues of race and homosexuality, caused the congregation to realize that they no longer fit in the EPC and needed to exit.
According to Pettus, the Letter of Racial Lament and homosexuality are only symptoms of a deeper, underlying problem in the EPC.
“What I find to be problematic is the ethos of the EPC,” said Pettus. “I think the original intent was to welcome egalitarian and charismatic churches. However, now that ethos is so ingrained that there is a willingness to consider all things. It’s the idea that we should straddle the fence on as many things as possible.”
Pettus and his Session worked with the Presbytery of the West to fulfill the Book of Order requirements for leaving the EPC, which include two congregational meetings. Although the Book of Order does not require churches to disclose their reasons for leaving, Pettus and one of his elders met with representatives of Presbytery to explain why they were leaving. The congregation experienced no opposition or resistance from the Presbytery.
“There has been no vitriol, no argument, no fight,” said Pettus.
The Artesia church was established in 1903. Pettus said that his wife’s family have belonged to the church since 1907, and that his children are the fifth generation to worship there.
“That’s why I came here,” said Pettus. “I didn’t want to see this church die. I felt that we could do something to reinvigorate it and move in a new direction. What I’ve found is that men in this community want a mission. That’s been my message. We want to see Christ in every corner of this town and be the light of Christ in those places.”
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