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Danny E. Olinger
At the opening of every general assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), there is a worship service led by the previous moderator, which in the case of the Ninety-First General Assembly was the Rev. John V. Fesko. What is not always the case, however, is that the sermon theme matches the disposition of the assembly that follows as well as Mr. Fesko’s sermon on Psalm 133 and the unity of the brethren in Jesus Christ matched last month’s assembly. A spirit of love for others and humility marked the six days that 142 ministers and ruling elders from the OPC’s seventeen presbyteries gathered to conduct the business of the whole church on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois.
In his sermon “Are You a Christian?” Mr. Fesko declared that the rich imagery of oil flowing down the head of the high priest upon his collar and robes in Psalm 133 foreshadowed Christ’s anointing as our great high priest. Upon Aaron’s collar were stones with the names of the tribes of Israel and upon his breastpiece there were twelve precious stones representing all twelve tribes. When Aaron and the high priests after him were anointed in the Old Testament, the oil would flow from the head to the rest of the body. This image in shadow points us to Christ’s anointing with the Holy Spirit and how we, his body, share in this anointing. The church’s unity comes from union with Christ through the bond of the Holy Spirit. The sermon was often referenced in speeches and prayers throughout the rest of the week as the brethren rejoiced in Jesus Christ and the unity found in him that was being evidenced in love for others.
After the worship service ended, the assembly then enrolled those present and elected Brian De Jong, pastor of Grace OPC in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, as moderator. Mr. De Jong, the son of OPC pastor Norman De Jong (1935–2022) and father of Elijah DeJong, a commissioner at the assembly and a pastor at Concho Valley OPC in Concho, Arizona, served the assembly well with a steady hand and a cheerful smile. In a moment that brought laughter to the body, Mr. De Jong with a wonderfully self-depreciating delivery announced the availability of a new book, “OPC Moderating for Dummies.”
His clear direction helped the assembly to finish its work in a timely manner, but more so, his servant-like leadership set a tone for others to follow. This was invaluable given the fact that thirty-four commissioners were attending an assembly for the first time and that nearly half the assembly had been ordained for fewer than ten years. Lending their wisdom to the proceedings in a quiet but steady manner were three commissioners ordained in the decade of the 1960s: Lawrence McHargue, John Jamison Jr., and Stephen Phillips.
According to the statistician’s report, the OPC’s membership grew to 33,566 persons, including 601 ministers, 24,637 communicant members, and 8,328 baptized children (non-communicants). This was in spite of the withdrawal of two congregations with a combined membership of 442, and the dissolution of six congregations with a combined membership of 231. During the last decade, the OPC has had eleven congregations (2,102 members) withdraw, including some of its largest in size. It has also had twenty-four congregations (889 members) dissolved during the same time period.
As the work of the assembly began, God’s covenant faithfulness was evident in the number of commissioners and standing committee members present who were fathers and sons. In addition to Brian and Elijah DeJong, also present (with the father listed first in each pairing) were Warren Bennett Jr. and Warren Bennett III, Alan and Jeremiah Montgomery, M. Joe and Andrew Moody, Jim and Peter Onnink, Bruce and Benjamin Stahl, and Timothy and Matthew Walker.
After the advisory committees completed their task of reviewing and preparing recommendations for the work that would be before the assembly, General Secretary Douglas Clawson reported on behalf the Committee on Foreign Missions (CFM). Although two missionaries, Mark Richline (Uruguay) and L. Charles Jackson (Uganda), came off the field in 2024, Mr. Clawson expressed thankfulness to our Lord for two new missionary evangelists who were called, Frederick Lo (Uganda) and Michael Kearney (Uganda), and one missionary, Benjamin Hopp, who was called to the position of regional foreign missionary to Africa and Haiti. Four missionary associates, Joshua and Danielle Grimsley, Jedidiah Homan, and Beatrix Taverne, served in Uganda.
Mr. Clawson also described 2024 as a year in which the work done in multiple OPC mission fields was preparation for the changes that are anticipated in 2025. A Bible study in Maldonado, Uruguay, has turned into a new place of worship. Men who graduated from seminary in Korea have completed their internships and are planting churches in a closed country. Buildings were constructed in Mbale so that new students could be added to Knox School of Theology and so that the school could satisfy all the physical plant requirements for full charter status. Plans were begun in Karamoja and Mbale to lead to transitioning oversight of church plants from the mission to the indigenous church.
Mr. Clawson emphasized that the CFM continues to look for men who are willing to go wherever it pleases Christ, through his church, to serve. Needed particularly are experienced pastors and presbyters who are able to mentor those who have little exposure to functioning sessions and presbyteries. What a blessing it is to be able to send ordained servants who are humble and wise, and who love the sheep as Jesus loves them! He finished by urging the assembly to continue to pray, “Here I am Lord, send me.”
The Committee on Christian Education (CCE) presented before the assembly the Modern English Study Version (MESV) of the Confession of Faith and the Catechisms of the OPC that the Eighty-Ninth (2023) General Assembly requested the CCE to prepare. The previous assembly had instructed the CCE to make morphological changes (for example, “hath” to “have”), archaic word and phrase changes, and necessary alterations of word order. The previous assembly also requested the CCE to replace the text of the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:2–17) and the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9–13) with a modern English version.
The assembly directed the stated clerk to send a digital copy of the MESV text to the clerk of the major assembly of each of the churches/federations with whom the OPC has an ecclesiastical relationship of either Ecclesiastical Fellowship or Corresponding Relations, together with that of each of the churches/federations that are member churches of the International Conference of Reformed Churches or North American Presbyterian and Reformed Churches, for their information, comments, or advice. The assembly further requested the CCE to prepare a printed version to be made available to all OP ministers and sesssions that request copies, and that all feedback regarding the MESV be submitted to the CCE by the end of 2027.
Great Commission Publications (GCP) Interim Executive Director John Dunahoo praised God for fifty years of joint ministry between the OPC and the Presbyterian Church in America in overseeing the Sunday school materials of the two churches. Mr. Dunahoo showed a video to the assembly that featured OPC minister and past GCP curriculum director Allen Curry.
Eric Hausler, the chairman for the Special Committee on Criminal History and Officer Qualifications, presented the report of the committee. The assembly determined to distribute the report to the presbyteries and to their candidates and credentials committees for study and to make the report available for interested parties who wish to study it.
Jeremiah Montgomery, general secretary of the Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension (CHMCE), reported that the Lord is blessing CHMCE with more opportunities for ministry than ever before—more opportunities, in fact, than the current level of giving to OPC Worldwide Outreach can support. According to Mr. Montgomery, this wonderful problem before CHMCE of increased opportunities means that the committee may soon be facing a time when its funds are exhausted in supporting its existing commitments.
Mr. Montgomery declared that it is his prayer that the OPC would be as faithful in reaching the unconverted as it is in reaching the under-discipled. He asked the assembly to pray that the Lord would continue to save new souls, directly or indirectly, through the ministry of the OPC.
David Nakhla, administrator for the Committee on Diaconal Ministries (CDM), gave thanks to the Lord for the benevolent giving that the committee received in 2024. He also reported that the CDM is making plans for the Fifth National Diaconal Summit for the deacons of the OPC at Wheaton College, June 2026. He urged all congregations to consider sending their deacons to this event, held only once every four years.
Jon Eide, regional director of Mission to the World in Ukraine, shared an update on the diaconal ministry being carried out in Ukraine through giving to “Crates for Ukraine.” Those interested in participating can find further information at cratesforukraine.com.
The CDM also debuted an impactful video presentation of the disaster response effort (small homes are being built from the ground up for those who lost them) being carried out in North Carolina following the devastating effects of Hurricane Helene. The CDM is hopeful to have the full video available to the whole church during the month of July on opccdm.org. They also shared that The Reformed Deacon podcast completed its third year, having produced as many as twenty episodes each year.
Committee on Ministerial Care (CMC) Director John Fikkert reported on the service and projects of the committee in the past year. The CMC has continued its administration of the OPC 403(b) Retirement Plan, financial planning services, insurance offerings, and the Obadiah Fund for retired ministers and their widows. Fikkert made special mention of the Haney Memorial Fund and its provision of sabbatical grants and retreat grants for ministers. Since 2020, more than fifty churches have received a sabbatical grant from CMC for their minister, with over $150,000 allocated. Anneke Fesko, CMC’s care coordinator for ministers’ wives, hosted a fellowship on Thursday for women in attendance at the assembly and area pastors’ wives and an outing to downtown Chicago on Friday for the same group.
On Saturday morning, the assembly continued consideration of a complaint on appeal that began the previous evening when the body had determined that it was in order and properly before the body. After hearing from the presentation of the appellant and the session and asking questions of both, the assembly reconsidered whether the appeal was properly in order before the body. After the morning break, the assembly allowed the appellant to withdraw his complaints.
On the Lord’s Day, the commissioners attended the local congregations in the Chicagoland area to worship in the morning and then regathered on the Trinity College campus for a joint evening worship service. The session of Covenant OPC in Oreland Park, Illinois, conducted the worship service with Iain Wright preaching on Luke 1:1–4, “Persistent Compassion.”
The major business on Monday was consideration of an overture from the Presbytery of the Midwest that the assembly erect a special committee to review the Form of Government (FG) and the Book of Discipline (BD) that are contained in the 2025 edition of the Book of Church Order. The assembly granted the overture and elected David Winslow Jr., Archibald Allison, John Fesko, Alan Strange, Mark Bube, John Mallin, and Peter Van Doodewaard to serve on the Special Committee to Review Amendments to the FG and BD.
Jeffrey Dronenburg Sr. reported for the Committee on Chaplains and Military Personnel. The assembly approved the committee’s recommendation that the United Reformed Churches of North America be received into full membership in the Presbyterian and Reformed Commission on Chaplains (PRCC). The assembly also approved a commitment of financial support of $1,500 to the PRCC for each of the thirteen active and full-time OPC chaplains. Mr. Dronenburg stated that the thirteen chaplains are comprised of seven endorsed active military chaplains: Richard Brasher, David DeRienzo, Joshua Jackson, Cornelius Johnson, Kenneth Kruchkow, Stephen Roberts, and Jeffrey Shamess; four endorsed reserve military chaplains: Jeffrey Corbett, Daniel Halley, Kenny Honken, and Benjamin Johnson; and two civilian chaplains: C. Phillip Hollstein and Charles McIlhenny.
The assembly honored Luke Brown for his forty years of diligent, sacrificial, and valued work as statistician of the OPC. With Mr. Brown’s retirement, the assembly passed a resolution that offered thanksgiving and praise to God for Mr. Brown’s gifts and service as statistician.
The meeting closed with a standing ovation in appreciation for Mr. De Jong’s service in moderating and the announcement that the Ninety-Second General Assembly will be held at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, from June 3 to June 9, 2026.
Appeals and Complaints
Ministers: Everett A. Henes, John W. Mallin III, S. Scott Willet (alternate)
Arrangements
Ministers: Andrew E. Davis, Robert E. Tarullo
Chaplains and Military Personnel
Ministers: Jeremy A. Brandenburg, Jeffrey W. Dronenburg Sr.
Elder: Pete Spaulding (California, MD)
Christian Education
Ministers: Alan D. Strange, Stephen J. Tracey, David M. VanDrunen, Harrison Perkins
Elders: John R. Muether (Oviedo, FL), Luke T. Shannon (Oreland Park, IL)
Coordination
Ministers: M. Scott Johnson, Daniel R. Svendsen
Elder: Ashraf Guirgues (New Bern, NC)
Diaconal
Minister: Adrian R. Crum
Elder: Peter R. Haines (Concho Valley, AZ)
Deacon: John J. Voss Jr. (Oreland Park, IL)
Ecumenicity and Interchurch Relations
Ministers: L. Anthony Curto, Robert E. Tarullo, Peter C. Van Doodewaard, David B. Carnes, John R. Nymann
Foreign Missions
Ministers: James T. Lim, Philip T. Proctor, John D. Van Meerbeke
Elders: John S. Emmett (Garland, TX), Hayo Jager (Raleigh, NC)
Historian
Minister: Brian L. De Jong
Home Missions
Ministers: James J. Cassidy, Jeffrey M. Scott, Mark A. Winder
Elders: Michael C. Cloy (Marion, NC), Steven S. Vanderwey (Wyoming, MI)
Ministerial Care
Ministers: Brett A. McNeill, Ronald E. Pearce, John S. Shaw
Elder: John E. Hearn (Orlando, FL)
Trustees
Minister: Richard N. Ellis
Elder: John E. Hearn
Statistician
Michael I. Hammonds (St. Augustine, FL)
The author is editor of New Horizons. New Horizons, July 2025.
© 2025 The Orthodox Presbyterian Church
