Plumb Line Perspectives
on the 45th General Assembly

By Editorial Board, Presbyterian Plumb Line

The 45th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, convening to address a host of matters, is a pivotal moment for our denomination. The Presbyterian Plumb Line Editorial Board urges Commissioners to engage deeply with the critical issues at hand, guided by Scripture, the Westminster Standards, and a commitment to the purity and peace of the church.

Several areas of focus at this year’s General Assembly include:

• The ordination process (Overtures 45-10 to 45-26 and 45-40 to 45-41). We encourage a well-functioning ordination process that serves both the candidates and churches in maintaining high biblical and academic standards for ordination. We think keeping the bachelor’s degree requirement and removing the extraordinary clause are sound decisions.
• The Position Paper on Divorce & Remarriage (Overture 45-27). We believe proposing revisions to the Position Paper on Divorce & Remarriage should be referred to the Permanent Committee on Theology for further study.
• The Rules for Assembly (Overtures 45-29 to 45-33). These deserve careful attention due to their impact on how overtures are developed and handled.
• The Fiscal Year 2026 Administrative and Special Projects Budgets (Overtures 45-37 to 45-38). These items warrant serious scrutiny in light of concerns raised by the Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest regarding financial transparency.

We encourage Commissioners to attend the following Networking Lunches:

• Tuesday: Engage with the Ad-Interim Committee on Ordination Standards.
• Wednesday: Engage with the work of the Ad-Interim Committee on Same-Sex Attraction and Ordination. See our article responding to the Ad-Interim Committee’s report.

For a detailed analysis of all overtures, we commend the thoughtful recommendations of Teaching Elder Zach Hopkins, pastor of Edgington EPC in the Rivers and Lakes Presbytery. His document, reflecting his personal perspective as a presbyter, offers valuable insights to guide Commissioners in their deliberations. This document is published with Zach’s permission and was not created exclusively for the Plumb Line.

Let us approach this Assembly with prayer, seeking wisdom and unity as we uphold the plumb line of Scripture.