OGA Responds to Jeff Jeremiah Letter

By Editorial Board, Presbyterian Plumb Line

In recent weeks, former Stated Clerk Jeff Jeremiah sent a personal letter to all church sessions and former General Assembly moderators in the EPC. In his letter, Jeremiah expressed concern about the report of the Ad-Interim Committee on Same Sex Attraction, urging elders to get informed and involved to preserve Biblical orthodoxy.

In response, the Office of the General Assembly sent out an email to multiple mailing lists in an attempt to diffuse the controversy. The letter, co-signed by the current Moderator, David Strunk, and Chairman of the National Leadership Team, Victor Jones, contained several false and misleading statements.

First, the OGA claimed that Jeremiah’s letter had caused “confusion,” with some believing it had been mailed out by the denomination. In fact, there was no confusion. In his letter, Jeremiah signed his name and clearly identified himself as the former Stated lerk. Jeremiah further explained that he personally wrote the letter. He did not use an EPC letterhead, nor did he claim to be speaking for the denomination. Nothing about the letter was misleading. Where, then, is the confusion?

Second, the OGA accused Jeremiah (although not by name) of “advocating against the work of the General Assembly’s Ad Interim Committee on the ordination of persons with Same Sex Attraction.” During the General Assembly in June, the AIC urged elders to provide critique on their report. In his letter, Jeremiah was exercising his right to critique the report. In no way was he “advocating against” the work of the committee.

Third, the letter implies that Jeremiah violated the “… GA-approved and constitutional processes of the EPC.” This is a serious allegation. However, the fact is that Jeremiah did not violate the EPC polity or process. When the General Assembly voted to create the AIC in 2024, the motion included a statement that, “It is the opinion and wish of the 44th General Assembly that no presbytery shall take action on petitions or matters before them that might touch on these areas of inquiry and exploration until the final report is received and acted upon by the 46th General Assembly.” At the time, this statement was referred to as “a gentleman’s agreement.” Our current Stated Clerk has publicly recognized such an “agreement” is unenforceable.

However, no act of General Assembly (but especially the expression of an “opinion and wish”) can take away the right of Presbyteries to consider or approve overtures. This basic right is guaranteed by our Constitution and cannot be swept away at the whim of the General Assembly vote. In truth, this “gentleman’s agreement” was itself unconstitutional and a violation of our Presbyterian polity. In advocating a constitutional amendment to address same sex attraction, Jeremiah is exercising his constitutional right. To imply that he has violated our process or constitution is simply untrue.

Fourth, the OGA letter seeks to reassure us that the AIC report is “still subject to revision” and that “… the final version of its work won’t be submitted until spring of 2026.” In other words, we should trust in the process and wait until spring when the final report is released. The problem, however, is that by spring it will be too late to submit an overture to amend the Constitution that will resolve this contentious matter at the 46th General Assembly. By that time, the deadline will have passed for submitting overtures asking the 46th Assembly to amend our Constitution. It is difficult to trust in the process when it seems calculated to avoid any substantial challenge prior to General Assembly.

Finally, the letter claims that Presbytery discussions around the AIC work “have been observed to be both substantive and respectful” and conducted in a “gracious manner.” However, the truth is that as recently as a week ago, the report had not been released in some Presbyteries. In other words, elders in some Presbyteries have been kept in the dark, not knowing the contents of the report. In addition, the “listening sessions” conducted in some Presbyteries have consisted mostly of presentations. In other words, a lot of the “listening” has been one-directional, leaving little time for questions or critique. In some Presbyteries, these listening sessions have seemed more like a selling job. The letter rightfully praises those who have participated in the AIC Presbytery discussions. Incredibly, it then chastises Dr. Jeremiah for daring to exercise the same rights each and every member of a Presbytery exercised at the AIC presentations!

In conclusion, this letter contains statements that are erroneous and misleading. While claiming not to take sides, this letter is clearly a rebuke to Jeff Jeremiah, who served the EPC as Stated Clerk with distinction for 15 years. You don’t have to read between the lines to get the message: anyone who dares to criticize the denomination is out-of-bounds and not playing by the rules.

This letter is further evidence that our denominational leadership has become top-down and tone deaf. The truth is that every elder in the EPC has the right to speak on the serious issues facing our denomination, including Jeff Jeremiah.