Vision & Values

We Value these three aims:

Our Vision is to be a Spiritual Family that Knows, Lives out of, and Proclaims the Wonder of God’s Grace in Jesus.

MESSAGE

We preach and teach the entirety of the Scriptures to all our members, from the youngest to the oldest. We regularly gather for corporate worship and observe the sacraments, seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

A man reads to children of all ages up front in the church during the children's sermon.

MINISTRY

We exhort and care for one another, practice gospel hospitality, foster intergenerational relationships, and nurture a sense of belonging as the people of God. We disciple one another in a spirit of love and humility, desiring to see one another walking in right relationship with our Creator and Redeemer.

2 men talking together

MISSION

Table filled with baked goods for the neighborhood feast day in St Elmo. Goods sold benefit the Safe Families organization in Chattanooga.

We declare the good news of Jesus’ work of reconciliation to our neighbors in word and deed by advocating for the vulnerable, extending mercy to the hurting, and displaying the beauty of Jesus to a broken world. We share our time, treasure, and talents with our neighbors both near and far, serving as Christ’s ambassadors until He returns.

We are committed to being on Mission for the sake of the St. Elmo Neighborhood, North Georgia, and wherever we are as the church, scattered.

Our History

An old black and white photo of St Elmo Presbyterian Church from 1890-1893, approximately. Dirt road in front with trolley lines.
St Elmo Presbyterian Church ca. 1891

The history of our church is a long one, but in many ways, we’re a church that has been re-founded more recently. The Lord’s faithfulness and providence have been evident throughout and remain our hope today.

St. Elmo Presbyterian Church (SEPC) was founded in 1889 by First Presbyterian Church (Chattanooga) in the new township of St. Elmo, Tennessee, located at the foot of Lookout Mountain. The Civil War was not long past, including the Battle of Chickamauga, one of the most significant conflicts of the war, which was fought less than 10 miles from St. Elmo.

In the early 1900s, SEPC founded Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, which is now one of the leading churches in the area and is planting its own churches.

SEPC experienced a wonderful period of revitalization with Pastor Cal Boroughs from 1990 until his retirement in 2020. Cal’s pastoral gifts revived the church and helped nurture a church home that was welcoming to young families moving to the St. Elmo area. SEPC became  an oasis of nourishment and refreshment for weary believers who were ministering in other fields. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic coinciding with the retirement of Pastor Cal, we rejoiced at how God had taken such good care of the congregation. That good care was continued with an interim Pastor, Bill Massey, and the arrival of our current Pastor, Daniel Wells, in the summer of 2023.

As the Lord has blessed the previous 30 years of our gospel ministry, we now look forward to our next 30 years as we adopt a new Vision and Philosophy of Ministry. We want to be tied less to our beautiful, historic building and more committed as the Church Scattered into our homes, neighborhoods, and vocations. We want to be a Spiritual Family for those who need such a community.

As SEPC has undergone much change, the St. Elmo neighborhood has also undergone much change. We love the new neighbors who have come here over the last several years, and we desire to love our neighborhood and work for its welfare. (Jeremiah 29:7 ESV – But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.)

Our Denomination

We are happy to be a part of the Presbyterian Church in America. Since 1973, the PCA has committed itself to be Faithful to the Scriptures, True to the Reformed Faith, and Obedient to the Great Commission.

We are a national denomination that is committed to

 

  • foreign missions,
  • church planting,
  • renewal training pastors and lay people for ministry,
  • higher education, including seminary,
  • campus ministry, and more.

 

Along with identifying the global church through the ages in affirming the Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, and Chalcedonian Creed, we also subscribe in good faith to the Westminster Standards.

You may learn more about the PCA and how it operates in its churches, presbyteries, and other agencies by reading its Book of Church Order.

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