In an effort to keep friends of Fair Oaks informed about denominational issues, we've set aside this page for helpful postings and material.  The materials are available in the ".pdf" format, so you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to open the documents.  We also encourage you to check out the feature on our website titled "What We Believe".  Several items there, including the little booklet "What Does it Mean to be Presbyterian?", explain basic evangelical distinctives.

To access the collection of informational materials, including the items distributed during our month-long discernment process, please click "Read More" just below.

Letters/Articles from our Church:

	Letter from FOPC's Session to the congregation, summer, 2006, following the PC(USA) General Assembly. The letter outlines basic theological differences that many evangelicals have with the denomination.
	Letter from FOPC's Session to the congregation, winter, 2007, about the request for court action regarding church property. The letter includes theological reflections on Christians and the law.
	Letter from FOPC's Session to the congregation, summer, 2007, outlining a series of informational gatherings.
	"InFocus" article from November, 2005, describing a convocation attend by FOPC called the "New Wineskins Initiative". The event was attended by reform-minded evangelicals who wanted to begin the process of providing an alternative constitution for the PC(USA).
	"InFocus" article from May, 2006, in anticipation of the PC(USA) General Assembly. The article lists some of the issues of great concern to FOPC that are to be addressed at the General Assembly.
	"InFocus" article from October, 2006, reflecting on the events of the PC(USA) General Assembly. The article includes a report on the actions taken by the General Assembly.
	"InFocus" article from November, 2006, describing actions of the Sacramento Presbytery. Included were resolutions passed supporting historic ordination standards and the affirmation that local congregations own their property. Most resolutions were overtuned by the Synod in June.
	"InFocus" article from February, 2007, giving an update to the congregation and reporting on efforts of the New Wineskins Association of Churches.
	"InFocus" article from March, 2007, describing how the Presbyterian formula for church representation favors small congregations. This becomes problematic at the presbytery level because smaller churces oten tend to be more theologically liberal and unorthodox.
	"InFocus" article from April, 2007, reporting on the recent New Wineskins Convocation. Included was the announcement that Fair Oaks would co-host the fall, 2007, convocation.
	"InFocus" article from May, 2007, describing some of the many Presbyterian denominations in the United States. The article lists some of the differences between our present denomination and other, more evangelical, denominations.
	"InFocus" article from May, 2007, titled "Why Belong to a Denomination?". The article talks about the benefits, and liabilities, of a church identifying with a particular denomination.

Articles/News from Outside Our Church:

	A news story describing how three southeastern Pennsylvania churches, each older than the United States of America, voted overwhelmingly June 24 to immediately disaffiliate from the Presbyterian Church (USA).
	A letter written by Pastor L. Rus Howard to his Venetia, PA, congregation after a recent vote by the church’s session to disaffiliate with the PC(USA). He provides pastoral and practical reasons why he concurred with the decision of the session and is leading the church to another denomination.
	A news story describing a meeting of the Memorial Park Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh wherein the congregation discussed its potential disaffiliation with the PC(USA). At the meeting, individuals representing both the PC(USA) and the New Wineskins Association of Churches pled their cases to the congregation.
	"Basis of Belief." A brief chart that summarizes theological and other differences between the PC(USA), the New Wineskins Association, and the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. (Provided by the New Wineskins Association).

Materials Assocated with our Townhall Informational Gatherings:

FOPC's session promoted and hosted a series of 12 Townhall Gatherings, plus an open mic listening meeting. The support materials for those meetings are available here (including unanswered questions collected from the table discussions, plus materials that speakers used in their presentations):

Week One Materials:
Week One Unanswered Questions.
What Does it Mean to Be Presbyterian?
FOPC's Essential Tenets.

Week Two Materials:
Week Two Unanswered Questions.
Concerns About PC(USA) Statements on Jesus.
We Grieve Because....

Week Three Materials:
Week Three Unanswered Questions.
Why Belong to a Denomination?
Overview of the New Wineskins/EPC Partnership.
EPC History, Beliefs and Distinctives.
Organizational Chart Comparison.