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Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Offering a faithful witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ is a never ending challenge. This challenge is made even greater by this year’s presbytery votes and increasing uncertainty among evangelicals about the options that are available within the PC(USA) for ministry with integrity. PFR is more committed than ever to mobilizing leaders who will face these challenges with intelligence, compassion, and evangelistic commitment.

One initiative that has received much attention is the recent letter and white paper and we have received many inquiries about PFR’s advice . We considered this proposal at length at our March 2-4 Board meeting, and we want to share our thoughts with you thus far.

First, we commend the Fellowship’s initiative and the creative ideas they have put forth. This effort resonates with PFR’s continuing commitment to find a way forward for our denomination that is both biblically faithful and missionally focused. We clearly sense the Holy Spirit’s work in the Fellowship proposal, and we look forward to the next steps.

We also appreciate how the Steering Committee, a group of large-congregation pastors, is committed to testing the Spirit’s work with the rest of the denomination. In particular, they are forming an Advisory Team to expand the voices in the conversation. The broadened participants in the conversation (women, racial-ethnics, small church pastors, middle governing body leaders, etc.) certainly give promise of a broadened wisdom as well. We bless and welcome the active participation of PFR Board members and staff in this group.

The letter extended an invitation to a gathering in Minneapolis on August 25-27. PFR’s Executive Committee and most of our Board plan to participate in this gathering. We encourage all from the PFR family to join in this conversation in August.

While we are hopeful that these initiatives will yield fruitful proposals for the future of our denomination, we also recognize various reasons why not all evangelical congregations may be able to support them. Please know that PFR will maintain our ongoing commitment to serve and support all who seek to be biblically faithful and missional within the PC(USA), regardless of their involvement in this evolving Fellowship.

We look toward the gathering in August even as we pray for the Holy Spirit’s clarity. PFR has been here for you in the past; we are here with you today, and we will be with you wherever God may lead. May Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, make his path for us plain! Please pray with us to that end.

In Christ,

James Kim, PFR President

Paul Detterman, PFR Executive Director