Welcome to the New River Presbytery (EPC).

We are a part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church spanning portions of three states: North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia. As a part of the EPC we identify ourselves as Presbyterian, Reformed, Evangelical, and Missional. We also share in the motto “In Essentials: Unity. In Non-Essentials: Liberty. In All Things: Charity.” 

New River Presbytery (EPC) also identifies four particular values we believe important to who we are as a regional body of the EPC. These values are: prayer, connection, disciple making, and church health. We seek to be a people of prayer, supporting one another and the mission of the church through prayer as a significant discipline of our Presbytery. We yearn to connect with one another in fellowship, through shared Reformed theology, and the common mission of church vitality and church planting. We believe that disciple making is a vital mission for the church given us by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20). We also desire, through training and resourcing, to constantly revitalize the health of church Sessions, churches, and the Presbytery. 

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR ETHOS AND VALUES IS EXPRESSED CLEARLY IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT

“Equipping, Enabling, and Encouraging Disciple Making Churches to Plant Disciple Making Churches.”

Our plan for the first three years (2023-2025) is to work to establish and embrace our identity through the three E’s: Equipping, Enabling, and Encouraging.

YEAR 1

Year one will focus on Identity/Ethos/DNA.

YEAR 2

Year two will be committed to Session health.

YEAR 3

Year three will give attention to overall congregational health.

These phases may overlap and begin sooner or later depending on the life of the new Presbytery as we begin this journey.

Ministry Committees

The Presbytery Leadership Team has oversight of the Ministry and Mission of the Presbytery serving as a coordinating body to promote the fulfillment of Presbytery’s missional purpose through regular communication among its members and monitoring the progress of each permanent committee to that end.

Church Development Ministerial World Outreach Stewardship

Church Development Committee (CDC)

The mission of the CDC is to take primary leadership in the implementation of Presbytery’s missional purpose: to equip, enable, and encourage disciple making churches to plant disciple making churches. We believe this to be our call to fulfill the Great Commission given by our Lord Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit and the leading of God’s Word we seek to strengthen our existing churches and work to plant new churches throughout our region.

Ministerial Committee (MC)

The Ministerial Committee, among many ministry tasks, is responsible for the oversight, examination, and ordination of Candidates for the gospel ministry; transfer requests of Teaching Elders; maintaining relationships and resourcing with Sessions within the presbytery. All other functions referenced in The Book of Government, G.21-2.

World Outreach Committee of NRP

The World Outreach Committee is made up of Teaching and Ruling Elders of the presbytery. Our goal mirrors the presbytery-wide goal of “Equipping, Enabling, & Encouraging Discipleship” in the area of missions. To that end, the WO Committee’s goal will be:

• To point church mission teams to resources (Perspectives Course, e.g.), missions books and training to equip their congregations to understand and participate in world missions.

• To keep global workers (missionaries) of our presbytery (TE’s and church members) in front the presbytery, to encourage prayer and support.

• To bring global workers to speak at presbytery.

• To support TEs and church members of the presbytery for short term missions to impact local churches for global outreach.

• To participate in the national WO Engage 2025 endeavor to plant churches among unreached peoples.


Stewardship Committee

The Stewardship Committee shall be responsible for encouraging the Scriptural practice of stewardship in support of Presbytery’s work and for oversight of all financial operations of the Presbytery. Duties shall include the following (other duties as may be assigned by the Presbytery): a) To develop an annual proposed budget in consultation with all permanent teams, Presbytery staff, and the Presbytery Leadership team prior to its submission to Presbytery for approval. b) To provide oversight of the Treasurer and all financial operations of the Presbytery. c) To review the Treasurer’s records for the preceding year and report its findings to Presbytery at its spring stated meeting. d) To nominate the Treasurer in accord with Presbytery Bylaws. e) To establish policies for team expenses, including mileage allowance for Presbytery work and ministry. The Treasurer shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

The New River Presbytery (EPC) conducts Presbytery meetings over a two day period convening at 1pm on Friday and adjourning at 12pm on Saturday on the first full weekends of February, May, and October. Ruling Elders are invited to participate in an orientation period at 11am on Friday. There is also the opportunity to fellowship together through a shared meal Friday evening at the host church.

Our prayer is to create a vibrant Presbytery bringing with us the DNA of the Presbytery of the Mid-Atlantic, but also taking advantage of our smaller size to create greater fellowship among all our churches and to nurture one another in faith so that, together, we can spread the gospel of Jesus Christ in our region by making disciples, strengthening churches, and planting disciple making churches. To God be the glory.

Leadership Team – New River Presbytery

© 2024 New River Presbytery (EPC).