About

I’m a church planter, working to establish a new Evangelical Presbyterian congregation in Lorton, Virginia. The new church is called Redeemer, and is currently meeting for worship at 10 am at Belmont Elementary School in Woodbridge.

21 Responses to “About”

  1. Larry Rued Says:
    January 7, 2007 at 2:38 pm

    Dear David,
    Good to learn that you have joined the EPC. I still miss Ecumenical Insanity. Now that I know a bit more about your background, I understand why you were so up-to-date on the various shenanigans happening in the mainline protestant churches.
    Larry

  2. David Fischler Says:
    January 7, 2007 at 4:35 pm

    Thank you very much, Larry. While I’ll be looking to change the tone here somewhat, I hope to still cover many of the same subjects with the same incisive analysis. :-)

  3. Judith L Says:
    January 7, 2007 at 4:59 pm

    I have enjoyed reading your comments on the blogs, Pastor Fischler. (I don’t know by what title you wish to be called.) I look forward to reading your blog.

  4. David Fischler Says:
    January 7, 2007 at 7:08 pm

    Thank you, Judith. In my congregation I go by “Pastor David” or just David. For this setting, I’m sure the latter will be just fine.

  5. cavman Says:
    February 9, 2007 at 8:47 pm

    Your blog certainly seem to be a good source of info for what is going on w/the EPC and the churches fleeing the PC(USA).

  6. David Fischler Says:
    February 9, 2007 at 9:11 pm

    Thanks much, cavman. I’ll be checking you out, too, and thanks for the place in your blogroll.

  7. mrsfalstaff Says:
    March 14, 2007 at 4:33 pm

    Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I only just noticed your comment because I didn’t realize that I had a spamcatcher, and it caught your comment. Now, I just have to figure out how to make the comments actually *show*…

    Mrs. Falstaff

  8. David Fischler Says:
    March 14, 2007 at 8:29 pm

    You’re very welcome, Mrs. F. I just checked them, and they show up just fine!

  9. Sherri Says:
    July 2, 2007 at 9:33 pm

    Dear David,
    Just wanted to say that I have enjoyed reading your blog tonight and will be back. Some of my immediate family are Presbyterians, very concerned about the state of the national church. It’s good to find out more about what is going on. Good luck to you in your church planting!

  10. David Fischler Says:
    July 3, 2007 at 7:58 am

    Thanks very much, Sherri. Come back any time.

  11. Luanne Coats Says:
    August 1, 2007 at 8:05 pm

    Pastor David-
    Have enjoyed reading about the PC(USA)/EPC problems, as my pastor is Bill Vogler, now the new moderator of the EPC.
    God could not have put a better man for the task than “our” Bill. He loves the Lord, glorifies Him in his exegetical preaching through the Bible, Quotes the “old dead guys”, jokingly calls the 17th century, his “comfort century”, and also would list baseball as one of his favorite interests.
    Please pray for him in this almost overwhelming task ahead.
    I thank you for your blog and will pray for your new church plant.
    Luanne

  12. Benjamin P. Glaser Says:
    August 6, 2007 at 7:27 pm

    I do not know why I missed this earlier but I notice you are Church planting in Woodbridge. I was stationed at Quantico while in the Marines and know the area quite well. The EPC Church I attended was also a Church Plant (that evidently failed) called Grace Presbyterian Church in Fredricksburg, VA. The Pastor’s name was I think Don Neighbors. Good Luck!!!

  13. David Fischler Says:
    August 6, 2007 at 8:27 pm

    Thanks, Benjamin. I’ve heard a fair bit about the one in Fredericksburg. It did fail, for a number of reasons, but Don gave it a good try. Once Redeemer has become a particular church, we’ll be the southernmost in the Presbytery of the East. Then we’ll plant one in Fredericksburg and pass the honor along. :-)

    Oh, and Luanne, I meant to reply to you last week. Thanks for the encouragement. I was very impressed with the job Bill did in leading the GA. And I have been and will be praying for him in the coming year.

  14. Benjamin P. Glaser Says:
    August 6, 2007 at 8:40 pm

    Well if you see Don let him know I said Hi (if he remembers me)… The congregation seemed to be growing when I left (summer of 2001). Was back in Fredrickburg back in 0′5 and noticed it wasn’t there anymore. Shame.

  15. Monika Sawyer Says:
    August 16, 2007 at 4:20 pm

    Thank you so much for your kind words about Homeworth Middle Sandy Presbyterian Church doing it right with leaving our denomination in a Christ-honoring way with our presbytery. It was only through much prayer with fasting. You thought “Middle Sandy” was a cool name - let me tell you where the name comes from. It was founded 186 years ago on the middle fork of the Sandy Creek which runs through Homeworth - being so named because it was worth having a home here. Also interesting is that our pastor’s name is Tom Sawyer. He’s an “all-American”, full of adventure, a retired USAF pilot, and a man after God’s own heart. We also have George W. Bush in our congregation who appeared on the Letterman show because he was one of a very few so named in the country. So you see, we have other interesting names besided Middle Sandy. And we all thank God for His great Blessings!

  16. David Fischler Says:
    August 16, 2007 at 5:00 pm

    That’s a great story, Monika! Are you Mrs. Tom Sawyer?

  17. Monika Sawyer Says:
    August 17, 2007 at 4:22 pm

    Yes, David, I am Mrs. Tom Sawyer. I was born Monika Lidia Steinke from Kufstein, Austria, and became Mrs. Tom Sawyer. I got me an “all-American boy”! You almost got the prize for your guess to “What’s My Line?”. You got 99 points - with 100 points you would have won a washing machine. :)
    I really enjoy reading your viewpoints. What do you make of the speeches coming out of the Gathering in Houston? Now that I am “cured” and in EPC, I look back at this group of only 95 people and am of the opinion that they missed the boat several years ago when 1300 evangelicals in the PCUSA were ready for action and leadership, but all we got was workshops and were told that they were there “to listen”. Well, shoot, why did we spend our money, time, energy, and vacation days for something so benign? The New Wineskins heard from the Lord and obediently went into action.

  18. David Fischler Says:
    August 17, 2007 at 5:17 pm

    I agree with you whole-heartedly, Monika. I just got through reading Parker Williamson’s report on Mark Brewer’s presentation to the Gathering, where he said:

    “So, why am I a part of the PCUSA?” asked Brewer, who said that, prior to being a PCUSA minister, he had been a member of the EPC. “This denomination is a big cruise ship that is dead in the water, but on the decks there is great life that is going on. … There are lots of boats out there, but I believe Presbyterian is the best. The PCUSA has a lot of leaks, and I don’t know if it has an engine any more, but Christ is the head of it. The question is, ‘How do we float that boat?’”

    I’m not sure, but I think he just described the PCUSA as the Titanic. Not sure why anyone would want to be dancing on the deck of the ship while it sinks into the ocean, but that’s just me.

    He also said:

    “I would rather be a conservative in a liberal church than a liberal in a conservative church,” Brewer said. “I think it’s more fun.”

    All I can say is, have fun, brother. Better you than me!

    So in response to your question about what I think of what’s coming out of Houston, I’d have to say, I’m delighted you and Tom have made the jump! I’m looking forward to meeting the two of you at the next General Assembly, if not before.

  19. andrewtatum Says:
    January 16, 2008 at 11:01 am

    My wife, Lydia, and I are currently divinity students in NC and are interested in pastoral ministry in the EPC. Do you know if the EPC in North Carolina accepts the ordination of women? We want to serve in pastoral ministry together and would simply like to know what’s possible in the EPC? Thanks, Andrew

  20. David Fischler Says:
    January 16, 2008 at 12:55 pm

    Andrew: Here’s the e-mail address for the Rev. John Mabray, who is the chair of the Ministerial Committee for the Mid-Atlantic Presbytery:

    john@rivermont.org

    He will be able to answer any questions you may have about service in the EPC, at least in that presbytery. By a quirk of geography, I’m in the Presbytery of the East, so I can’t tell you what their policies are down there. But drop John a line, and I’m sure he can be of assistance.

  21. kirsten Says:
    February 10, 2008 at 9:12 pm

    best wishes on the new church. i know how hard it can be to get the new ones up and running. I suggest much reading of C.S. Lewis.

    kirsten (found you from Rosary Army)
    P.S. don’t forget to take some time for yourself….. there are some nice conventions coming up in your area.

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