The Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) voted last week at its General Assembly to approve a “pastoral letter” to churches that opens the door to ordaining celibate, same-sex attracted individuals — a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from within the denomination.

The measure passed by a vote of 57% to 43%, according to the Presbyterian Plumb Line, an online journal of EPC elders who describe themselves as seeking “to lead [the] denomination toward a more biblical expression of our Presbyterian conviction.”

According to the Plumb Line, the controversy traces back to Greg Johnson, pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, who identifies as homosexual but celibate. Johnson left the Presbyterian Church in America in 2022, and his church subsequently inquired about joining the EPC.

“That has stirred up all kinds of controversy because we’ve got some in the EPC that appear to be very open to bringing him into the EPC, and we’ve got other groups that are absolutely opposed to him coming into the EPC,” said Donald Fortson, professor of church history and pastoral theology emeritus at Reformed Theological Seminary and a long-time EPC member, in an interview with Christianity Today. Read more»

Kim Roberts, “The EPC Votes To Ordination Of Celibate ‘Same-Sex Attracted” Pastors'” | June 23, 2026.

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