The PCA pastor who overtured the 51st General Assembly for a committee to examine the PCA’s relationship with the book “Jesus Calling” is transferring to another denomination. At Eastern Carolina Presbytery’s most recent meeting, Teaching Elder Benjamin Inman was dismissed in order to join the Reformed Presbyterian Church in North America.
In a statement provided to byFaith, Inman explained his reasoning behind the overture: “The ‘Jesus Calling’ overture was purely an act of repentance for my failure to pursue the issue in 2013. I learned in 2023 that the book had sold 42 million copies, and I was ashamed of my inaction. I’m encouraged that my delinquent and meager attempt has been taken up by the General Assembly.”
At Eastern Carolina Presbytery’s April 2024 meeting, Inman gave an annual report on his ministerial activities as required by teaching elders without call. According to the minutes of the meeting, his report “revealed that he has joined an RPCNA church as a regular member, and that this appears to be in conflict with PCA polity.” The presbytery voted to refer the matter to its shepherding committee “to confer with TE Inman regarding his status and to bring a recommendation to the July (Summer) Stated Meeting.”
At the same meeting in April, Inman brought his overture regarding “Jesus Calling.” The overture failed. He then sent it directly to the General Assembly for consideration.
The Overtures Committee of the 51st General Assembly amended Inman’s overture. Instead of a committee, the amended overture requested reports from Mission to the World and the Committee on Discipleship Ministries concerning their relationship with the book and its author. The amended overture passed, and MTW and CDM will make their reports to the 52nd General Assembly in 2025.
At its meeting on Saturday, July 20, Eastern Carolina Presbytery (ECP) passed a motion that “following BCO 38-3a, ECP record and acknowledge TE Ben Inman’s new affiliation with the RPCNA, remove his name from the roll of ECP, and send a letter of dismissal to the session of First Reformed Presbyterian Church in Durham indicating he has been an ECP member in good standing for 24 years.” In their rationale, the committee explained that Inman “is actively pursuing transfer of his ordination to the RPCNA hopefully by the end of 2024.”
Inman told byFaith that his transfer stems from a change in views which began in 2018. “I have been on a slow burn towards exclusive psalmody, a thorough-going messianic understanding of the New Testament, and a more pressing recognition of my vows. Those are tether points pulling me to the RPCNA.”
Inman has been a member of Eastern Carolina Presbytery for 25 years. He previously served as RUF campus minister at North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He most recently served as assistant pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina. Since January 2023, Inman has been without a call while helping his adult child with special needs establish long-term employment.
Though Eastern Carolina Presbytery has dismissed him, Inman must still enter the RPCNA’s process to transfer his ministerial credentials into the denomination. “We’ll see if they’ll take me,” he said.
Like the PCA, the RPCNA is a member of the North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council. According to the denomination’s website, the denomination is often referred to as “Covenanters because of their identification with public covenanting in Scotland, beginning in the 16th century.” They are also distinguished by worship music which “employs God’s Word only” and “without the aid of the musical instruments.”