Transitioning Denominations

[Corey Powell]

*I couldn't tell if there was a better place to post this, please move if there is*

I will be finishing Seminary in a year, and am hoping to start the process of planning what to do after in light of my recent change of conviction.

My long-term desire is to be a senior pastor/teaching elder, though I am willing and understand that it is in fact a long-term goal, and in no way presume that I will attain this in 5 years or so, particularly as i am starting ground-up in many areas of theology.
My family's plan at the moment is to, in the beginning of 2026, move to a new location primarily based on a church and presbytery in America. I won't spell out my family situation, but it doesn't play a huge role in the decision of location, though something on the east coast/south would be preferred.
I haven't yet done too extensive research into Presbyterian. denominations, but I believe I would fit best into the PCA (probably mostly because it's a "large tent").

However, I am not sure where to start. I have no connections in the world of Presbyterianism outside of this esteemed board. How should I go about looking for a church to move to, given my long-term goals? how much should I weigh local church and presbytery? how can I even assess and research these things?

I am open to any wisdom you may have regarding this.

thank you!

 

[TylerRay]

*I couldn't tell if there was a better place to post this, please move if there is*

I will be finishing Seminary in a year, and am hoping to start the process of planning what to do after in light of my recent change of conviction.

My long-term desire is to be a senior pastor/teaching elder, though I am willing and understand that it is in fact a long-term goal, and in no way presume that I will attain this in 5 years or so, particularly as i am starting ground-up in many areas of theology.
My family's plan at the moment is to, in the beginning of 2026, move to a new location primarily based on a church and presbytery in America. I won't spell out my family situation, but it doesn't play a huge role in the decision of location, though something on the east coast/south would be preferred.
I haven't yet done too extensive research into Presbyterian. denominations, but I believe I would fit best into the PCA (probably mostly because it's a "large tent").

However, I am not sure where to start. I have no connections in the world of Presbyterianism outside of this esteemed board. How should I go about looking for a church to move to, given my long-term goals? how much should I weigh local church and presbytery? how can I even assess and research these things?

I am open to any wisdom you may have regarding this.

thank you!

Greenville, SC is a nice area, and has a variety of Presbyterian denominations (PCA, OPC, FCC, etc.). From what I understand, the PCA and OPC presbyteries represented there are some of the better ones in those denominations.

One thing you should reckon with is that you are at the beginning of a journey, and that the denomination you are about to join may not be the one you want to be in a few years from now. I'd recommend moving somewhere that gives you options as you continue to study things out. I say this particularly because you hope to be in the ministry one day.

 

[NaphtaliPress]

You probably need some realistic advice or at least information on the overwhelming number of candidates versus places to put them in the PCA. Yet, small PCA churches are under served. See information at https://consultingservicesfoundation.org/#faq. I bet @fredtgreco could give you some valuable advice.

 

[Ye_Olde_Heidelberger]

The NAPARC church map is an good place to start for finding local Presbyterian and Reformed congregations: https://heidelblog.net/2020/05/how-to-find-a-confessional-presbyterian-or-reformed-congregation/. From there I would peruse a congregation's SermonAudio page to get a feel for how preaching and worship is conducted. I'd also echo Tyler's advice about not setting yourself on a denomination too early before discerning the wide body of options. I also come from a Baptist background, and the journey to my current denomination (in which I also hope to serve as a minister) involved a lengthy process of learning and wrestling with my own convictions. The Lord's blessings to you in your search, and may He use you powerfully for His kingdom!

 

[Edward]

reenville, SC is a nice area, and has a variety of Presbyterian denominations (PCA, OPC, FCC, etc.)

I'll add in ARP for the etc. in Tyler's post since they are well represented in the Piedmont. Although they have their own issues.

And I'll echo what Chris said - there are pulpits available in the smaller, often struggling churches.

I would note that the PCA requires an internship either during one's seminary years or after graduation. Those opportunities are more common in the larger or mid-sized churches, although if you can otherwise support yourself, you might be most welcome in a smaller church.

 

[Corey Powell]

Thanks for the advice and resources so far! I think these may be helpful.
I appreciate the advice of not settling on a denomination, i have felt pressure (internally not externally) to settle on one prior to moving so that I can consistently prepare for ministry. But seeing as my reformed confessional and ecclesiastical convictions have not fully formed yet, this would be premature.

I appreciate the mention of Greenville as a good area. Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

Once I narrow down a little I'm sure ill come back to this thread for more opinions.

 

[jwright82]

Thanks for the advice and resources so far! I think these may be helpful.
I appreciate the advice of not settling on a denomination, i have felt pressure (internally not externally) to settle on one prior to moving so that I can consistently prepare for ministry. But seeing as my reformed confessional and ecclesiastical convictions have not fully formed yet, this would be premature.

I appreciate the mention of Greenville as a good area. Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

Once I narrow down a little I'm sure ill come back to this thread for more opinions.

I'm in a wonderful PCA church in Middleburg, Florida. As far as I can tell the Presbytery is pretty good. We have different churches ranging from very traditional to more evangelical. I was a member of an OPC church in Abeline TX, that was fantastic but small. Don't know what might have changed there though because the pastor I was under left the ministry for some reason.
I tried calling his new profession as a nurse but he never called me back. So I don't know, but he was officially taken off the roster of ministers for some personal choice I believe (not disciplinary reasons). But a great group of people none the less. Also a great OPC church in Witchata Falls TX as well that I know nothing about now. For what it's worth.

 

[TylerRay]

Thanks for the advice and resources so far! I think these may be helpful.
I appreciate the advice of not settling on a denomination, i have felt pressure (internally not externally) to settle on one prior to moving so that I can consistently prepare for ministry. But seeing as my reformed confessional and ecclesiastical convictions have not fully formed yet, this would be premature.

I appreciate the mention of Greenville as a good area. Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

Once I narrow down a little I'm sure ill come back to this thread for more opinions.

Dallas, TX could be a good option. There are a number of different denominations represented there. I'm not sure what the presbyteries of the larger denominations are like, though.

 

[Ye_Olde_Heidelberger]

I appreciate the mention of Greenville as a good area. Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

I would add Grand Rapids, Michigan, to your list. We have a buffet of options, including some healthy OPC and PCA congregations. There is an FCC exploratory work being set up here as well. If you're open to the Continental Reformed tradition, we also have representation from the URCNA, FRCNA, and HRC.

 

[Ed Walsh]

My long-term desire is to be a senior pastor/teaching elder, though I am willing and understand that it is in fact a long-term goal, and in no way presume that I will attain this in 5 years or so, particularly as i am starting ground-up in many areas of theology.

I remember that somebody told me this story about a young seminary grad who asked an older senior pastor how long he thought he should spend preparing a sermon. His answer was 10 or more like 20 -- (the young man was expecting the next word to be 'hours' per week) -- but the word he heard and instead was 'years.'

 

[Edward]

Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

For the PCA, I'd put Mississippi Valley Presbytery near the top of the list. Of course, you'd need to swim upstream against the guys coming out of the original RTS who have been able to build networks. Westminster Presbytery has historically been the most conservative - perhaps sometimes conservative to a fault. DFW has a blend of Presbyterian denominations, including some solid PCA congregations, but ranging from there to FCC. (No active ARP works that I can think of). Some solid PCA churches in Houston Metro, as well. If you are looking around Atlanta, I'd rank the PCA Presbyteries from conservative to liberal as Northwest Georgia - Georgia Foothills - Metro Atlanta. There are also some OPCs worth looking at in Metro Atlanta.

Dallas, TX could be a good option. There are a number of different denominations represented there. I'm not sure what the presbyteries of the larger denominations are like, though.

Wrote the above before reading this post. North Texas Presbytery (PCA) seems strong on discipline. Various flavor of congregations and the denomination is strong in the region.

No EPC presence to speak of.

One strong ECO church.

A few strong PCUSA churches, some moderatly successful ones, and some that have been rapidly shrinking

Three or four OPCs scattered around

One FCC. One RPCGA. One Reformed Baptist. No ARP.

I may need to edit this later to make sure I'm more or less up to date.

Edits below:

Found a tiny EPC chuch in Lewisville and three additional ethnic (2 Korean, one Brazilian) ECO churches in addition to the large weathy one.

 

[J.L. Allen]

ECO and EPC have a strong egalitarian center, the former more than the latter. There are many good EPC folks here with strong, orthodox conviction (perhaps one or two that are ECO). The wide birth in some PCAs and ARPs is a cause for frustration among the more confessional brethren. Honestly, you find even a bit of this in the OPC, but it is muted. So, the "big tent" always (eventually), as far as I can tell, dilutes confessional conviction and causes more strife than it does unity. I serve a CRC congregation out of bounds and am coming to know intimately the frustration and heartache of confessional brothers in the face of subversive theological liberals and weak-willed moderates.

Now, mind you, purity spiral is to be avoided, too. A dear friend warned me about purity spiral, which is when you reform yourself out of any communion represented in any established church. Perhaps we all know individuals or families like this; I can think of several even now.

In other words, there are some denominations to be avoided all together. However, no denomination is "safe" if people in every generation are not advocating for strict confessional adherence rooted firmly in the soils of Scripture.

 

[Jeri Tanner]

One FCC. One RPCGA. One Reformed Baptist. No ARP.

Just a note that there are two FCC congregations in Texas- Dallas Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian in Greenville.

 

[clawrence9008]

I serve a CRC congregation out of bounds and am coming to know intimately the frustration and heartache of confessional brothers in the face of subversive theological liberals and weak-willed moderates.

Quick question, what does it mean to serve a congregation "out of bounds"? Hopefully this isn't distracting from the thread, I was just curious.

 

[J.L. Allen]

Quick question, what does it mean to serve a congregation "out of bounds"? Hopefully this isn't distracting from the thread, I was just curious.

I'll answer briefly here, but any more discussion could be taken up either by PM or in another thread. It means that a minister (or licentiate, in my case) labors outside of his denomination without seeking to be credentialed by the body he is serving. So, for me, I am a licentiate in the OPC, hoping to be ordained in the coming months as an OPC minister, but the congregation I am serving (and hoping to continue serving as long as the Lord sees fit) is in the Christian Reformed Church. Should the Lord bless this path, I'll be ordained as an Evangelist, which is how the OPC categorizes men serving outside of the OPC in a church context (note, that can be and often is different if it's a parachurch organization).

 

[Edward]

Just a note that there are two FCC congregations in Texas- Dallas Presbyterian Church and Westminster Presbyterian in Greenville.

The one up in Greenville is outside the metroplex, but it is within communting distance. One of our assistants would go up there and preach regularly when the location was nearing its run as a PCA. I think it may still be a mission church of the FCC, although I don't follow it closely. And it's one of the ones missing off the FCC webpage of American churches.

 

[EvanF]

Not on the east coast, and probably a stretch, but my church in Fairbanks, Alaska has been without a pastor for almost two years. We are technically a mission church affiliated with a CREC church in Palmer, Alaska, however, when we particularize my hope is that our eventual session might affiliate with a NAPARC denomination and a teaching elder who is open to that would be blessing.

 

[Jeri Tanner]

The one up in Greenville is outside the metroplex, but it is within communting distance. One of our assistants would go up there and preach regularly when the location was nearing its run as a PCA. I think it may still be a mission church of the FCC, although I don't follow it closely. And it's one of the ones missing off the FCC webpage of American churches.

Yes, but with a thriving congregation with regular Lord's day services and local officers, and in a position to call a pastor.

 

[Corey Powell]

Upon doing quite a bit of searching, I found one church is am quite interested in.

If anyone has knowledge of the church that would be helpful in considering, I would like to hear.

It is "Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church" in Simpsonville, SC, near Greenville. (PCA)
I very much appreciated what I saw of what is available on their website, especially their bulletin and liturgy. And I'm am very glad to see they have Lord's day evening worship as well.
And I saw they are on Ken Gentry's list of postmil churches, which is a plus for me

Is anyone aware of this church and have anything good or helpful to say?

Thanks!

 

[SolaScriptura]

Thanks for the advice and resources so far! I think these may be helpful.
I appreciate the advice of not settling on a denomination, i have felt pressure (internally not externally) to settle on one prior to moving so that I can consistently prepare for ministry. But seeing as my reformed confessional and ecclesiastical convictions have not fully formed yet, this would be premature.

I appreciate the mention of Greenville as a good area. Are there any other areas or presbyteries that this board would view as "healthier"? anywhere in the USA, but maybe in the east or in Texas specifically.

Once I narrow down a little I'm sure ill come back to this thread for more opinions.

There’s a fantastic PCA church in Spring, TX… and a fairly decent one in Katy.
Voddie Baucham’s church is here in the area too.

 

[Theoretical]

Upon doing quite a bit of searching, I found one church is am quite interested in.

If anyone has knowledge of the church that would be helpful in considering, I would like to hear.

It is "Woodruff Road Presbyterian Church" in Simpsonville, SC, near Greenville. (PCA)
I very much appreciated what I saw of what is available on their website, especially their bulletin and liturgy. And I'm am very glad to see they have Lord's day evening worship as well.
And I saw they are on Ken Gentry's list of postmil churches, which is a plus for me

Is anyone aware of this church and have anything good or helpful to say?

Thanks!

A couple of recent acquaintances from church who are currently at BJU go there and have spoken very highly of it.

 

[MarrowMan]

A couple of recent acquaintances from church who are currently at BJU go there and have spoken very highly of it.

Ugh. BJU.

 

[davejonescue]

Question, did you ever bring this decision to the elders at your local church you are interning at, or the Seminary you are receiving the SBC tuition-stipend at? Did they approve of this as in "carry on as usual?" Though I am only a laymen, it seems that would not be a good starting off of your future in ministry if (not saying you are) you are not being entirely forth-coming with the powers that be to save a few $1,000. I understand you keep saying "but my convictions are not there yet." Yet, you are otherwise planning as if they were. I dont know how truthful that is to keep saying the former, while being so sure of the latter, to possibly take advantage of what is meant to be provided for SBC students? Not trying to cause offense, and I could be wrong, I just know the SBC provides very generous tuition discounts for its students, but if you no longer align with their denominational doctrines, can one really continue to "act" as if they do for the benefits?

Now if you went to them and they said "dont worry about it" please disregard. I just dont want to see you potentially drawn to financial compromise so early in your journey, as it may have lasting effects in the life of your ministry. Our inclination to sin is very much like leaven, we let even a piece in and it can sour the whole loaf.

 

[J.L. Allen]

Ugh. BJU.

Huge fan, eh?

 

[Theoretical]

Ugh. BJU.

Eh don't knock everyone who goes there. These two like the church for the same reasons I like my church (very solid Presbyterian congregation). They're from a pretty conservative family. The emphasis to the sentence was on "currently attends there" and not on the BJU part.

 

[Edward]

@MarrowMan @Theoretical I think I've told the story here before of knowing a woman in college that had gotten kicked out of BJU for being too conservative. She denounced one of the Bob Jones (I think it was Junior, might have been III) for the Joneses being Freemasons.

 

[MarrowMan]

I'm a BJU grad. It's where I earned my BA. It was, at the time of my attendance, all the worst parts of fundamentalism. They had made some progress since then, but that progress is in question with the ouster of Steve Pettis. Historically, it is the worst of the worst, excluding Pensacola.

Eh don't knock everyone who goes there. These two like the church for the same reasons I like my church (very solid Presbyterian congregation). They're from a pretty conservative family. The emphasis to the sentence was on "currently attends there" and not on the BJU part.

I'm not knocking them, lol. I'm knocking BJU.

 

[Corey Powell]

Question, did you ever bring this decision to the elders at your local church you are interning at, or the Seminary you are receiving the SBC tuition-stipend at? Did they approve of this as in "carry on as usual?" Though I am only a laymen, it seems that would not be a good starting off of your future in ministry if (not saying you are) you are not being entirely forth-coming with the powers that be to save a few $1,000. I understand you keep saying "but my convictions are not there yet." Yet, you are otherwise planning as if they were. I dont know how truthful that is to keep saying the former, while being so sure of the latter, to possibly take advantage of what is meant to be provided for SBC students? Not trying to cause offense, and I could be wrong, I just know the SBC provides very generous tuition discounts for its students, but if you no longer align with their denominational doctrines, can one really continue to "act" as if they do for the benefits?

Now if you went to them and they said "dont worry about it" please disregard. I just dont want to see you potentially drawn to financial compromise so early in your journey, as it may have lasting effects in the life of your ministry. Our inclination to sin is very much like leaven, we let even a piece in and it can sour the whole loaf.

I appreciate the admonition. My gut reaction was to get defensive so I did not respond right away. But you are right. I do not wish to make excuses, but this has been a very sudden and confusing change, and there are many factors in my life that make this much more complicated than a difference of a few thousand dollars. Yet I have been slow to take the step of informing the powers of my change of mind, maybe out of caution that I might yet change back. however, over the last month, I have more than failed to convince myself to be a Baptist (even as in my internship we are going through a "why be a Baptist" class right now). My wife and I have been praying about the best way to go about these things. I would appreciate any prayers on our behalf as well.

As for the SBC scholarship, while I may communicate it to them, it is my understanding that the funds from the CP are applied to all members of SBC churches without discrimination, which I currently am. And there is nothing to specify that the funds are only for those going into Baptist ministry, which is certainly not the case for a large percentage, though there are specific external scholarships that state this. SO unless my church decides to disfellowship me because of this (which i am 99% sure will not happen) then I would continue to receive the discounted tuition price.

I also feel I should clarify - my internship is more like a pastoral class than a classic internship. It's a 3-year program (of which I am in the 3rd) of about 20-30 per class which meets at 6 AM on Fridays to practice preaching, teaching, and learning. I am carrying out no pastoral duties at all and only serve in common capacities. Were it otherwise, I would have felt burdened to disclose this much sooner. I felt I should hold back to consider and pray for a time, though that time seems to have passed and I may have been too long.


On another note - does anyone know much about the state of the PCA in Chatanooga, TN? or specifically the quality of Wayside Presbyterian Church?

I am specifically trying to find the right place to go long term to serve, work, learn, grow, and eventually pursue ordination though not right away.

 

[ZackF]

ECO and EPC have a strong egalitarian center, the former more than the latter. There are many good EPC folks here with strong, orthodox conviction (perhaps one or two that are ECO). The wide birth in some PCAs and ARPs is a cause for frustration among the more confessional brethren. Honestly, you find even a bit of this in the OPC, but it is muted. So, the "big tent" always (eventually), as far as I can tell, dilutes confessional conviction and causes more strife than it does unity. I serve a CRC congregation out of bounds and am coming to know intimately the frustration and heartache of confessional brothers in the face of subversive theological liberals and weak-willed moderates.

The big tents seem to end up a three ring circus and the worst purity spirals a side-show freak claiming to be the One True Church. I don’t have an answer humanly speaking.

 

[J.L. Allen]

The big tents seem to end up a three ring circus and the worst purity spirals a side-show freak claiming to be the One True Church. I don’t have an answer humanly speaking.

Neither are my idea of entertainment. May the Lord help his church!