The three presbyteries will be regional in nature: Southwest Presbytery will encompass Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri. Northern Presbytery will encompass all the congregations north of Tennessee and North Carolina (with the exception of Pathway Presbyterian Church (mission) in Clarksville, TN). The Southeast Presbytery will cover all the states east of the Mississippi River and south of the northern borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. All three presbyteries will have their formal organizational meetings to elect a Moderator and Clerk. They will also decide on a name for their body.

Vanguard Presbytery began on February 6, 2020 with the reception of two ministers, TE Dewey Roberts and TE Michael Frazier. The congregation of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, FL soon voted to follow their pastor, TE Roberts, into Vanguard Presbytery. Other congregations and pastors followed. Vanguard held its formal Convocation in Nashville, TN in July of 2020. Vanguard Presbytery now has 17 particular churches, 10 mission churches, 2 mission works, and one pastor serving in a church that is expected to follow him into Vanguard. Additionally, the denomination is regularly discussing its distinctives with pastors and churches who are inquiring about Vanguard.
At its 14th stated meeting on October 18, 2024, Vanguard Presbytery met at Chapel Woods Presbyterian Church in Snellville, GA. The Presbytery voted unanimously to organize the denomination into three presbyteries and call for a General Assembly to be held some time before the end of August 2025. The three presbyteries will be regional in nature: Southwest Presbytery will encompass Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, and Missouri. Northern Presbytery will encompass all the congregations north of Tennessee and North Carolina (with the exception of Pathway Presbyterian Church (mission) in Clarksville, TN). The Southeast Presbytery will cover all the states east of the Mississippi River and south of the northern borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. All three presbyteries will have their formal organizational meetings to elect a Moderator and Clerk. They will also decide on a name for their body.
The retiring Moderator of Vanguard Presbytery, RE Mark Grasso, was authorized to appoint the convening Moderator and Stated Clerk for the General Assembly. He appointed TE Dewey Roberts to serve as the convening Moderator and TE Joshua Light to serve as the convening Stated Clerk. Both men will be eligible to be nominated for election by the General Assembly. Moderator Grasso also appointed the convening Moderators and Stated Clerks for each of the presbyteries, which will meet soon to establish themselves as separate presbyteries.
This move to divide into three presbyteries and call for a General Assembly was the appropriate time for Vanguard. First, it was becoming increasingly difficult to do the work of both a national presbytery and a denomination. There are some important distinctives of Vanguard Presbyterian Church which contributed to that decision. Vanguard does not have provisions for standing committees at the General Assembly level. We believe that church history shows that such committees can eventually become unaccountable to their denominations and function as administrative hierarchies within their respective spheres of responsibility. Hierarchy is contrary to the Scriptural principles of church polity.
Second, Vanguard believes that the Scripture establishes that the missionary work of the church is to be carried out by congregations and presbyteries—not the General Assembly. It was the Church at Antioch that sent out Paul and Barnabas as missionaries (Acts 13:1-3). Presbyteries have the authority to ordain and conduct oversight of ministers and their work (1 Timothy 4:14 and 2 Timothy 1:6), which includes the responsibility to oversee their work as evangelists and missionaries. The responsibility of the General Assembly is more legislative and judicial in nature (cf. Acts 15:1-35), especially in deciding such issues that affect the spread of the gospel. Thus, the General Assembly of Vanguard Presbyterian Church will be interested in receiving reports from each presbytery concerning how they are carrying out the Great Commission and how they are encouraging and helping every member congregation to do the same.
There are other unique principles that Vanguard has adopted, particularly in light of the heterodox positions taken by many modern reformed denominations. Vanguard holds that the creation account in Genesis took place in a literal six-day period. We believe this is supported by the Westminster Confession and Catechisms that God created “all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.” We believe those days were all the length of our days—twenty-four hours—since the Scripture says concerning them all that “there was evening and there was morning, one day.”
Vanguard also holds to the office of evangelist as a special gift given to some elders as was held by the New Side Presbyterians in the 18thcentury and the Old School Presbyterians in the 19th century. Indeed, the office of evangelist has great support in the history of the church, in Christian writings, and in the various books of polity of reformed denominations—even if most of those denominations today completely ignore the office of evangelist.
Vanguard also identifies with the theological positions of both the New Side Presbyterians and the Old School Presbyterians. These two movements are mirror images of one another. The New Side Presbyterians during the First Great Awakening emphasized support for that revival while also holding to orthodox theology. During the Second Great Awakening, the Old School Presbyterians opposed the “strange fire” and the heretical positions taken by some people who were actively promoting it, believing that God is the one who sends revival. The only real difference between the New Side Presbyterians and the Old School Presbyterians is the particular circumstances they faced and the times in which they lived. At heart, they agreed on all matters. Also, Vanguard requires full subscription to the Westminster Standards which is a great aid in promoting the unity of the denomination.
One special difference between Vanguard and other denominations is the amount of time spent in worship and prayer at every meeting. Preaching and prayer in Vanguard are not perfunctory, but lively and worshipful. At the most recent stated meeting, presbytery heard two excellent sermons and spent 90 minutes in prayer before conducting our business. The prayer time was an especially meaningful time with heartfelt prayers being offered for matters that are not usually a part of public prayers. Vanguard believes that if presbytery is to be the church of the ministers, then it needs to focus on the two things that the apostles determined should be the main focus of their energies—prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).
While Vanguard began with some churches from the PCA, several of them have come from other denominations and some from mission churches planted by Vanguard. We have some churches in cities where no other reformed churches exist, such as Clovis and Roswell, New Mexico. There are some exciting things that have happened in some of the churches. For instance, the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church in Live Oak, Texas under the pastoral leadership of TE Dick Jones was organized as a particular church in March of 2021. They recently bought and paid for three acres of land in a choice area for $550,000. The church still has assets in addition to the property of over $600,000. They are planning on erecting the first phase of their building program.
TE Ryan Denton, ordained as an evangelist by Vanguard, has taken the admonition of Paul to Timothy very seriously: “do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). Under his faithful evangelistic efforts, there are several churches that have been raised up. He preaches most Sundays to the Lubbock Reformed Church in the morning and the Grace Covenant Reformed Church (mission) in Clovis, New Mexico in the afternoon. Clovis is 100 miles from Lubbock. Thankfully, Ryan has mentored a young man, TE Erick Welsh, who passed his ordination exam at our recent presbytery meeting. There are other works that have been started through Ryan’s efforts or through his faithful follow-up to opportunities brought into his path. This is what Ryan said about why he is in Vanguard today: “I joined Vanguard because of their culture of prayer, national revival, church planting, and evangelism, along with its commitment to the WCF and historic Presbyterianism. As Vanguard continues to grow, these principles continue to be reinforced and unleashed.”
TE Mic Knox is the founding pastor of Gospel Reformed Church (Mission) in Marietta, Georgia. Before coming into Vanguard, his leadership team looked into several denominations and talked with a representative of Vanguard congregations. They chose Vanguard because, “This is the best denomination for us. There really is nowhere else that would be right.” TE Knox preached at the recent presbytery from 3 John 2. He transferred into Vanguard a year ago and his congregation came into the denomination earlier this year. He gave the reasons for his congregation being in Vanguard: “Our Trinitarian, Covenant Lord—who has saved us by grace—providentially guided Gospel Reformed Church to Vanguard because the Holy Spirit has engendered an encouraging, evangelistic ecosystem where the gospel of Jesus is faithfully preached inside the church as well as in the community—which is the Biblically balanced mandate from Scripture. Vanguard’s regenerate and humble Teaching and ruling Elders galvanize one another in local, national, and foreign evangelism; while Vanguard is filled with godly men who love, glorify, and enjoy the Lord, each other, His Bride, and their local communities with deep compassion for the lost.”
The newest minister transferring into Vanguard is TE Sterling Brown who is starting a new church in Richmond, Ohio—Geneva Reformed Church (Mission)—which was ‘birthed from a body of believers fleeing the growing corruption in many of the well-known corporate Presbyterian denominations.” When he and his congregation were looking for a denomination faithful to the Scriptures and the WCF, he chose Vanguard for the following reasons: “We were thankful to join Vanguard Presbyterian Church because of their strong stance on the Word of God, their commitment to the Reformed faith (Westminster Confession of Faith, Larger and Shorter Catechisms) and the devotion to God in their understanding that the local church for whom Christ shed His blood is more important than corporate Presbytery.”
Vanguard members rejoice in the number of young ministerial candidates and licentiates as well as the number of students in the Vanguard School of Ministry. TE Al Baker, one of the founders of Vanguard, observed: “Vanguard is the very best denomination in our country and I would not want to be in any other one.” His sentiment is universally shared by others in the denomination.
For more information or to make a donation: Vanguard Presbyterian Church; or contact Dewey Roberts or Joshua Light

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After receiving this telephone call, Maxim and his family made the very difficult decision to remain as exiles in Turkey rather than to return home. Maxim and his son are opposed to the present war Russia is waging. This decision has been painful to his soul because he had labored for years in starting a Reformed church in St. Petersburg.

On October 18, 2022, Pastor Maxim Fokin was in Turkey, along with his family, for a month-long medical convalescence when he received a telephone call from the military enlistment office in St. Petersburg. He and his son, Daniel, were told that they must report to the enlistment office within 24 hours. Maxim is 52 and his son is 28. Maxim had served in the military as a machine gunner as a young man and so his skills were needed in this ongoing so-called “special military operation” Russia has been waging against Ukraine.
Russia has now declared a full mobilization and is grabbing able bodied people wherever they can find them. Maxim told me about some Russian pastors who were meeting at a hotel in Moscow when the police surrounded the building, barricaded the entrances and exits, seized the pastors, and forced them to enlist in this war. A couple of pastors were able to escape through the back alley before it was closed off and they reported this matter to Maxim.
Maxim, his wife (Larissa), their son (Daniel) and his wife’s mother (Ludmilla) took only warm weather clothing with them for their trip. All of their other possessions are still in their apartment in St. Petersburg.
After receiving this telephone call, Maxim and his family made the very difficult decision to remain as exiles in Turkey rather than to return home. Maxim and his son are opposed to the present war Russia is waging. This decision has been painful to his soul because he had labored for years in starting a Reformed church in St. Petersburg. He is still able to preach to his church via zoom meetings, but he has decided to start a new work among the many Russians who have fled to Turkey as a result of these actions by Vladimir Putin. In God’s providence, Maxim has connected with a group of Russian speaking people in Izmir, Turkey who were looking for a pastor for a church they were planting. This might be an answer to his prayers.
I have known Maxim for fourteen years. Though he speaks only a little English and I speak only a little Russian, we have become very close friends over the years. For over a decade, it was my privilege to lead, perhaps, the largest annual pastors’ conference in Russia. There were 150 pastors who would attend. Some of them came from Latvia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Israel, as well as all parts of Russia. Over the years, we were able to have such speakers for the conference as: Joel Beeke, Geoffrey Thomas, Anthony N. S. (Tony) Lane, Terry Johnson, myself, and others.
Those were great days that are now seemingly gone forever. None of this would have been possible without the diligent, tireless efforts of Maxim. He handled all the logistical arrangements for the conference, while I raised the financial support and secured the speakers for the conference. Anyone who ever spoke at the conference or attended it is aware of how much effort Maxim put forward into making it a success.
Maxim and his family are now planning to minister in Turkey with no sense of ever being able to return to Mother Russia. He has been told by the Russian government that if he ever comes back that he will be dealt with as a foreign agent—either imprisoned or executed. He is now trying to start over among fellow refugees who are also poor.
During this Christmas season, I would like to appeal to readers to support Maxim and his family. Donations can be mailed to: Church Planting International, PO Box 836, Gainesville, GA 30503.  Donations be given online at: www.cpimission.org. Church Planting International will send every dollar that is donated to Maxim to their account in Turkey and the fees for the wire transaction will be paid from the general fund of the organization. Your gift of any size will be greatly appreciated.
Dewey Roberts is Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, Fla.
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Vanguard Presbytery has had wonderful fellowship for these past two years. Except for this late unpleasantness caused by a few parties who have now left due to their desire to rush to judgment on one issue in violation of the Scripture and our Constitution. Vanguard has new churches that are starting in various places and other existing churches talking with us about becoming part of us. Our goal is primarily to start new churches through evangelism and the Lord is indeed blessing our denomination in various ways.

As I was boarding a plane on my way to a Vanguard Presbytery meeting on Friday, May 13, I received a text from a fellow presbyter about an article written by the Christ Reformed Presbyterian Church that was on The Aquila Report. When I landed I opened the article and read what could only be described as slanderous accusations against the good name of Vanguard Presbytery. It is easy to slander with a broad brush when facts do not have to be provided. I hope everyone reading this article will carefully consider that point.
Vanguard Presbytery was accused by a few (who have left to start a new denomination) of constitutional and theological abuses. No evidence was given to support such accusations. Thus, I will reply by simply stating where Vanguard Presbytery stands on its constitution and doctrinal standards.
First, we believe, as does the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) and most every Reformed and Presbyterian denomination, that Matthew 18:15-18 is a basic principle of church government, and few are the instances in which it can be ignored. Requiring people to follow Matthew 18:15-18 is not an abuse of Presbyterian polity and does not constitute a constitutional crisis. The failure to do so would constitute the crisis.
Second, the polity of Vanguard Presbytery clearly makes committees of all church court levels subordinate to the courts and prohibits those committees from acting on any matter which is not given to them by the court. Upholding our polity is not a constitutional crisis. The failure to do so would constitute the crisis.
Third, Vanguard Presbytery upholds the rights of due process for all members at every court level. Preventing a rush to judgment in violation of the rights of due process of any person is not a constitutional crisis. The failure to do so would constitute the crisis.
Fourth, Vanguard Presbytery believes, as does the PCA and other Reformed or Presbyterian denominations, that discipline must be exercised in a dispensation of mercy and grace. If any member is accused of an error in doctrine or practice, the court must proceed carefully in order to attempt to reclaim the erring brother. The goal is to bring the brother to repentance. Proceeding cautiously does not constitute a constitutional crisis.
Vanguard Presbytery has upheld our constitution in all our decisions and we have certainly not adopted any theological error. The few who have left did not proceed through the court with their matters to its final decision and did not wait for the courts to act. Vanguard Presbytery has neither swept anything under the rug nor adopted any theological error. Anyone saying otherwise is bearing false witness. Without going into details, that is all I can say in response. Thus, I categorically deny what was written about us. Other elders in Vanguard Presbytery have contacted me to express that they feel we have been slandered. We have!
Vanguard Presbytery has had wonderful fellowship for these past two years. Except for this late unpleasantness caused by a few parties who have now left due to their desire to rush to judgment on one issue in violation of the Scripture and our Constitution. Vanguard has new churches that are starting in various places and other existing churches talking with us about becoming part of us. Our goal is primarily to start new churches through evangelism and the Lord is indeed blessing our denomination in various ways.
Anyone who has ever started a new congregation knows how easy it is to gather some people in the beginning who later prove not to be good fits for the congregation. It is no different in starting a new denomination. It is nice to write an irenic sounding purpose statement, but true irenicism is proved by actions.
Dewey Roberts is Pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Destin, FL, a member congregation of Vanguard Presbytery.
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