Due to PCUSA’s theological drift,
Safety Harbor pulls up anchor
By Edward Terry, The Layman, March 15, 2010
There was no worship Sunday in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church in Safety Harbor, Fla., but services went on as planned.
At a neighborhood library, 98 percent of Safety Harbor’s recorded membership gathered for what was described as an “awesome” worship experience. In the weeks prior to moving its services and office to a new location, the congregation had voted unanimously to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and form a new corporation called Safety Harbor Covenant Church. In the face of presbytery action to dissolve her call, Safety Harbor’s pastor, the Rev. Joan Hill, resigned and renounced denominational jurisdiction on Friday.
Presbytery of Tampa Bay Stated Clerk Gerry Tyer would not comment, but the presbytery’s March 16 special-called meeting notice is a good clue to its reaction. According to the Tampa Bay Web site, the presbytery will consider proposals to:
- form an administrative commission to take over Safety Harbor’s session;
- dissolve the pastoral relationship between Hill and Safety Harbor; and
- inform Joan Hill that the presbytery “disapproves of her work in regard to leading members … to leave the PCUSA, and that she is prohibited from engaging in such work.” If she persists in such work or fails to inform the congregation of the meeting, it will be a presumption of renunciation of jurisdiction.
The Tampa Bay Web site states that the stated clerk was told on March 1 by Safety Harbor’s clerk of session that the congregation had decided to leave the PCUSA. Safety Harbor’s pastor, clerk of session and some elders notified Tampa Bay’s COM at its March 4 meeting. No such discontentment had been expressed during a recent visit, according to the COM.
According to the presbytery meeting notice, the committee on ministry (COM) on March 4 appointed the Rev. Virginia Simmons Ellis as temporary supply for Safety Harbor effective March 17 in anticipation of taking action against Joan Hill.
Going against the current
The congregation based its departure on recommendations by a congregational task force created to investigate the PCUSA’s theological drift, said Jay Hill, an elder and the pastor’s husband.
The task force was challenged with four options:
- Stay and ignore the drift
- Stay and fight against the drift
- Leave the denomination and go independent
- Leave the denomination and join another
The process took place over several years and reached its breaking point in recent months.
“We had decided to stay and fight,” said Jay Hill, adding that the congregation put that sentiment into action by joining the New Wineskins Association of Churches and the Confessing Church Movement. “As time went forward, we continued to see the drift, and the accelerant in the drift was the (Presbyterian Panel, Religious and Demographic Profile – 2008) survey the PCUSA put out several months ago on their Web site that talked about the key issue we were concerned about: Is Christ who He says He is and is the Bible the authentic word of God. … It was very disappointing (to discover) where the pastors, special pastors, elders and congregants stood on those two topics.”
The congregational vote to leave the denomination was 108-0, Jay Hill said, adding that only two members were “uncomfortable” with the action and asked to be removed from the membership rolls.
The church isn’t a building
The congregation’s Web site already reflects its new name, and there are plans to worship again at the library on March 21, Jay Hill said. Even though Safety Harbor has the deed and title for the property, the chances of keeping it aren’t good. The presbytery had already alluded to legal action when Safety Harbor representatives met with the presbytery’s COM, he said.
“There is no debt on our property,” Jay Hill said. “The property is worth at least in the high hundreds of thousands. It’s a pretty juicy plum.”
Florida law most often favors the denomination in church property disputes, Jay Hill said, so the congregation is praying for the best and planning for the worst. The congregation has retained legal counsel, and has been advised not to discuss legal strategy with the press.
Knowing that a long legal battle could lie ahead, Safety Harbor remains focused on the Word and worship. The first service on March 14 as an independent congregation was “spirit filled … it was all about God and Jesus,” Jay Hill said, adding that 106 of 108 members were present.