The 18th Stated Meeting of Evangel Presbytery met Thursday, June 5th, 2025 at Pine Grove Community Church in Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Many thanks to Pr. Jeremy Vander Galien and the church for hosting us – it was a blessed time!
Morning Worship
We began the day with morning worship and communion. This time, however, out of expediency, we changed things up a little bit. We had three licensure exams to complete at the meeting which also meant three sermons to be preached. So, New Geneva Academy graduate, Timothy Deaton, preached his licensure sermon on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 during the morning service. We were blessed by his exhortations to us, namely, ‘comfort one another with these words’ (verse 18).
Business
Following worship we turned to business. Corresponding members and visiting brothers were introduced and seated, and the docket and previous meeting minutes were adopted. After our Stated Clerk and Treasurer’s reports we heard from the newly formed Presbytery Growth Committee.
Elder Tom Thistleton gave his report from the committee, starting with the adoption of a Mission, Vision, & Core Commitments statement. After some minor amendments (including the addition of an Oxford comma – yes!) the statement was adopted and will be added to Evangel’s Bylaws, as well as posted to Evangel’s website: “Our Commitments“. Many thanks to all who worked on this statement.
Elder Thisleton then presented the committee’s recommendation that Pr. Tim Bayly be appointed as Evangelist to serve Covenant Fellowship Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. The recommendation was approved with a majority vote. We then broke for lunch – brisket and pork belly!
Licensure Exams
After lunch we went straight into licensure exams. Each candidate had three exams: Theology, English Bible, and Book of Church Order. First up was current NGA student Brandon Charbonneau, from Houghton, Michigan. Next was NGA graduate, Daniel Coughlin, from Sabetha, Kansas. And finally, NGA graduate Timothy Deaton, from Indianapolis, Indiana. After a short break we heard Brandon and Daniel’s licensure sermons on Hebrews 4:14-16 and Psalm 23, respectively. All three of the men’s exams and sermons were sustained, and they were approved for licensure! After taking their vows, moderator Josh Congrove gave them a charge and prayed for them. Congratulations men!
Elder Thisleton then presented the Presbytery Growth Committee’s recommendation to make Brandon Charbonneau’s church plant, Christ the King Church (Houghton, MI) a mission church of Evangel Presbytery and provide it with a provisional session. The recommendation was approved by a unanimous vote. May God bless the work of this mission church.
Following a report from the Shepherding Committee, we turned to unfinished business: the ratification of the New Doctrinal Positions Section of the Book of Church Order, described previously here. This was the final step in the process for changing our BCO. Those changes will appear soon.
Our final order of business was to appoint a new Stated Clerk. Pr. Lucas Weeks has faithfully served in this position for many years, but due to his recent change in call he decided to step down. Pr. Alex McNeilly was elected to serve as the new Stated Clerk. Thank you Lucas for all the work you have done for Evangel!
We closed the meeting with prayer.
Next Stated Meeting: Indianapolis!
Our next Stated Meeting will be at Clearnote Church Indianapolis, IN, Friday, October 3rd, 2025 at 9 a.m. We look forward to seeing you there!
Many thanks once again to Pine Grove Community Church and Pr. Jeremy Vander Galien! We were blessed by your hospitality and had a wonderful time of fellowship at the Vander Galien home. Go Hodags!
