The Catechisms are in fact part of the constitutional documents of the EPC.
The Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms has been our doctrinal foundation since our beginnings in 1981. Two versions are available for use in the EPC (one being modern language). EPC ministers, Ruling Elders, and Deacons take a vow on their ordination saying that they “receive and adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures."
Not to kick up a hornets nest here, but the EPC is like a theological halfway house. Some churches moving in become "more conservative," such as mine, although its certainly not perfect, still suffering from decades of egalitarianism, but becoming less egalitarian consciously. Likewise, some Churches leaving the PCUSA may make their new Presbyteries "more liberal." I heard a few comments from TE's at the last Generally Assembly that made me shake my head. Its a mixed bag. Churches leaving the PCUSA are often more theologically conservative than one might suspect (or else why would they be leaving and litigating?), despite having had "top down" egalitarianism forced upon them or accepting it willingly. For instance, If I recall correctly correctly, my Presbytery has a majority of former PCUSA churches, yet just voted to not accept female teaching elders. Some churches go into EPC and become more "theologically conservative," some do not. Also, having been through the process, EPC does not just take "any PCUSA church that wants to leave." However, it probably seems that way from the outside.
