The following was adopted by Louisiana Presbytery at its 80th Stated Meeting in July 2005.

LA Presbytery Ad Hoc Committee on Federal Vision Theology Final Report and Recommendations

While we recognize important differences among the men associated with what has become known as Federal Vision Theology (FV), because of the common concerns shared by them, we are comfortable identifying FV as a theological movement which attempts to address various weaknesses within both contemporary Reformed traditions and the broader evangelical community

Some common doctrinal emphases: 1) sacramental efficacy, 2) the centrality of the visible Church, 3) the importance of a lived out faith to Christ, and 4) "real" covenantal union with Christ.

FV offers the following helpful criticisms:

1. FV challenges Scholastic tendencies within Reformed traditions.
2. FV challenges sectarianism, neglecting in practice the essential doctrine of the unity of the church, which is a great offense to God and of which most Reformed traditions and churches are guilty.
3. FV challenges Evangelicalism's focusing exclusively on individualistic soteriology while neglecting the ecclesiological aspects of salvation.
4. FV challenges a low view of the sacraments, held in much of Evangelicalism.
5. FV challenges the way the doctrine of the Covenant of Works has been formulated and held in some Reformed camps.

We believe that theological development and inquiry is a needed task. Yet we are troubled by the nature of how this discussion has taken place.

• We believe that the proper place for theological development/inquiry of this nature is in the courts of the Church and not through the internet or in the pews.
• Problems with the way it has been communicated at times. Among some proponents, language has often been used in a way that confuses or incites rather than promotes understanding and peace.
• Likewise, while recognizing that we are to be 'always reforming' and should strive after theological progress, we are concerned about the reformulations of some theological corner pieces of the Reformed Faith (e.g., reworking of justification and imputation by some proponents).

We are also concerned at much of the reaction to what has become known as Federal Vision or Auburn Avenue Theology.

• Some critics have often read proponents' writings in the worst possible light. If they had spoken to the proponents before publicly critiquing them, they would likely find much more common ground.

Our Presbytery has the following concerns:

1. Though we think the emphasis on the corporate nature of salvation is important in view of truncated contemporary emphases, such emphasis should exclude neither the individual application of salvation nor the individual's vital, intimate relationship with Christ.
2. Any teaching on baptism as the visible (and invisible) means of union with Christ should not exclude the teaching that baptism assumes faith as the instrument of that union.
3. Any formulation of a doctrine of baptismal regeneration which makes an individual's conversion and heart change absolute and infallible upon baptism is problematic.
4. A formulation of the doctrine of perseverance which states one who is elect (according to the WCF's understanding of this term) can fall away from grace is problematic.
5. In teaching the eschatological and ecclesiological nature of justification, we should not exclude the Confession's understanding of the individual's justification as a forensic act based solely on Christ's meritorious life and death.
6. We would like to note some differences (whether real or apparent) between some FV teachings and the Westminster Confession of Faith:
   • Justification (WCF 11; SC 33; LC 70-73).
   • Adoption, esp. regarding the certainty of perseverance (WCF 12; SC 34; LC 74)
   • Perseverance (WCF 17.1; SC 36; LC 79-81)

As a guard against departures from the Confession, we would set the following boundaries of acceptability in four critical areas:

1. Baptismal efficacy: The Confessional understanding that baptism is a sacrament and, therefore, an effectual means of grace:
   1. Allows for the view that God can regenerate at the moment of baptism according to the Confession's understanding of regeneration as an individual's change of heart from dead to living.
   2. Allows for the view that at baptism God absolutely and really brings a person into the corporate people of God, that is the visible church.
   3. Allows for the view that we are to consider everyone who is baptized and has not been excommunicated as regenerate.
   4. Does not allow for the view that God always regenerates the individual after the manner of "a," above.
2. Election:
   1. The Bible uses the term 'elect' in different ways, including at times to refer to the corporate people of God. The Confession would allow for the term to be used in this way of those who belong to the corporate people of God. However, the Confession itself uses the term 'elect' to speak of only those who have been unchangeably chosen by God for eternal salvation.
   2. The Confessional understanding of election does not allow for the view that a person can be "elect" and, later, "unelect" after the manner of the WCF's understanding of the term.
3. Justification: The WCF
   1. Calls for a view that Justification and sanctification are distinct but never separate.
   2. Does not allow for a view of the individual's justification which includes any works but Christ's as an instrument in that person's justification.
   3. As with the term 'elect', the Bible also uses the term "justify" in broader ways than the Confession does, e.g., as in James 2:21-25. However the Confession itself uses the term 'justification' fundamentally to speak of the forensic declaration by God regarding a person when he or she initially trusts in Jesus with saving faith.
4. Perseverance/the nature of saving faith: The WCF
   1. Calls for a view acknowledging that when someone passes from death to life (1 John 3:14) they cannot fall away or lose that faith, because saving faith is rooted in the gift that God gives rather than the works that we do.
   2. Acknowledges the reality of apostasy, that a person can be a member of the visible church and fall away and thus loose the real benefits of belonging to God's people, the real loss of external, Covenant blessings claimed through being a member of the visible church through baptism.
   3. Does not accommodate a view that an individual can have a vital, internalized relationship with the Lord and lose it.

Auburn Avenue Theology Study Committee recommendations:

1. We strongly exhort all concerned to demonstrate patience and Christian charity in interacting with these issues and with one another.
2. Having thoroughly examined Rev. Steve Wilkins as to his views on these and other related issues, we find him to be within the bounds of the Confession at this time. However particular written expressions especially on the issue of baptism still have led to confusion, both on the part of those troubled by these writings as well as those who embrace what was written. We exhort him to clarify/reformulate his teachings to define them more precisely, especially as they relate to the Confession's use of language and to take more care when communicating these things in the future. Nonetheless, we do believe that Rev. Steve Wilkins should be exonerated as to the charges and inquiries that our Presbytery has received about him, as he appears to be within the Confession and the System of doctrine contained therein.
3. That Rev. Steve Wilkins be publicly exonerated by Louisiana Presbytery, and declared to be faithful to the Confessional standards of the PCA.