| ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians | |
|---|---|
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| Classification | Protestant |
| Orientation | Reformed Evangelical |
| Polity | Presbyterian |
| Synod Executive | Dana Allin[1] |
| Associations | |
| Headquarters | Irving, Texas |
| Origin | 2012 |
| Separated from | Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Congregations | 383 congregations[4][5] |
| Members | 129,765[4] |
| Ministers | 500[5] |
| Official website | eco-pres |
ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians is an evangelical Presbyterian denomination in the United States. As a Presbyterian church, ECO adheres to Reformed theology and Presbyterian polity. It was established in 2012 by former congregations and members of the Presbyterian Church (USA), abbreviated PC(USA). Denominational disputes over theology—particularly ordination of practicing homosexuals as pastors and gay marriage—and bureaucracy led to the founding of ECO.[6][7][8][9] In 2018, ECO has over 383 congregations, 103,425 covenant partners (church members) and over 500 pastors.[4][5] ECO churches are egalitarian in beliefs and ordain women as pastors and elders.
- ^ "ECO Staff". eco-pres.org. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- ^ "Members". World Communion of Reformed Churches. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
- ^ "Denominations". nae.net. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2019.
- ^ a b c Allin, Dana (September 30, 2019). "One Measure of a Flourishing Church: Our Mutual Spurring". eco-pres.org/. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Membership". eco-pres.org. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- ^ "About ECO – Our Story". eco-pres.org. Archived from the original on February 23, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- ^ Gryboski, Michael (July 18, 2016). "PCUSA's Eighth-Largest Member Church Votes to Leave and Join Conservative Denomination". The Christian Post. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
- ^ "ECO, the New Anti-Gay Presbyterian Denomination: Cowardly Lions". 20 January 2012.
- ^ Liston, Barbara (19 January 2012). "Presbyterian group breaks away over gay clergy". Reuters.