Stay or leave?
One church leaves PCUSA; Others discern their future
The Layman , October 3, 2012
Church sessions and members across the country are discerning their future and for most that discernment includes whether to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA) or leave for a more conservative denomination.
One church – Eastminster Presbyterian Church in Wichita, Kan. – has already made its decision and was dismissed by the Presbytery of Southern Kansas (PSK) to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) effective Aug. 31.
According to a Sept. 19 letter to the congregation from Wayne A. Becker, clerk of session and Roger D. Lowe, president of the board of trustees, the presbytery on behalf of itself and the PCUSA, “renounces and releases any interest or claim of any type whatsoever in or to any real or personal property currently owned by Eastminster or acquired by Eastminster hereafter and PSK promises that it will make no claim against such property adverse to Eastminster now or at any time in the future.”
The letter continued that because the congregation’s annual per-capita payment was approximately 25 percent of the presbytery’s budget, and the presbytery would need time to adjust to the reduced revenue, the congregation will make a gift of:
- “$220,000 payable over four years representing multiple years of per-capita tax
- “$80,000 payable over four years for the continued support and the right to use Westminster Woods at the regular established use charges.”
The 2,302 member congregation is currently a transitional member of the EPC.
Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Park, Calif.
The session of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church voted to begin a process of discussion and discernment about its future denominational alignment in September.
Using the Presbytery of San Francisco’s revised Gracious Dismissal Policy, the elders will first meet with presbytery representatives to begin an open dialogue. According to the session’s announcement on the church website, the presbytery’s process “provides time for ample meetings and discussions with the congregations prior to any formal vote by the congregation.”
“We will walk through this process with humility, integrity, and seeking the Spirit’s guidance in everything for God’s glory. We want to follow God’s calling on our church and stay focused on our mission to grow in Christ, be in authentic community together, and to bless whole the Bay Area,” read the statement.
Menlo Park is a 4,125 member congregation with five campuses. “From San Mateo to Menlo Park to Mountain View, we are leading our generation into a transforming relationship with Jesus and authentic community with each other so that everyone in the Bay Area can flourish,” according to the website.
Church of the Redeemer, Snellville, Ga.
On Sept. 9, the session of the Church of the Redeemer announced to the congregation is unanimous decision to seek dismissal from the PCUSA and join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. The actual motion approved by the session read:
“The session, after years of prayer and discernment and in obedience to the leading of the Lord Jesus Christ, recommends that Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, which will require our initiating the process of dismissal from the PCUSA using the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta’s (PGA) Policy for Gracious Dismissal.”
In its letter, the session said “It is our belief that the PCUSA has been moving away from the Reformed tradition of our heritage, especially in the area of the authority to Scripture and the exclusivity of Christ for salvation.”
“We do not take this decision lightly and realize that it may cause pain for some in our body. However we believe that we can no longer faithfully remain in the PCUSA,” the letter read.
The Church of the Redeemer has 573 members and describes itself as a “multicultural church with a heart for missions, offering a blend of contemporary and traditional worship, featuring music from today as well as hymns from yesterday. Inspired preaching and teaching touches on all aspects of our lives as we seek to live out our daily Christian walk.”
First Presbyterian Church of Peachtree City, Ga.
The session of the 675-member First Presbyterian Church of Peachtree City, Ga., recently voted to enter into the Gracious Separation Process with the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta
According to the announcement on the church website, “This decision comes after months of prayer, debate, study, and listening to our Congregation. At the conclusion of this process the Session intends to join the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO).”
In the Sept. 2012 church newsletter, Senior Pastor Dr. David Miller wrote that “For almost two years your elders have struggled with the issues, debated with each other, listened to your thoughts and concerns, and prayed for God’s guidance. They have come to the conclusion that now is the time to begin the process of Gracious Separation from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. … Let me assure you, the congregation will still be Presbyterian whether our members vote to remain in the PCUSA or vote to be dismissed to the ECO(Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians).”
The church’s vision and mission is to “Discover, know and serve Christ, together.”
White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, Newark, Del.
A special meeting of the 497-member congregation of White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church was held Sept. 23 to vote on the following motion:
“that the congregation of White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church (WCCPC) desires to be dismissed from the PCUSA (Presbyterian Church in the USA) and join ECO (A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians), and so authorizes the Session of WCCPC to negotiate with New Castle Presbytery the terms of a gracious dismissal (to include the church buildings and property, all other assets, and name), and to apply for membership in ECO.
In a 151-22 vote, the motion was approved. However, as New Castle Presbytery has no dismissal process in place, the Rev. James L. Moseley, NCP’s executive presbytery has informed the White Clay session the vote does not count and was contrary to the Book of Order.
In an article in the Sept. newsletter of the church thanked the congregation for it “continued dedication to the Body of Christ at White Clay Creek as we seek God’s will for our future, and for your patience in what has been a trying time. The high level of participation in the congregational information meetings held in August was an indication that we, as a church body, are serious about discerning the will of God.”
An Aug. 2012 letter from the session stated that the elders sensed “a call to move to a denomination that is aligned with our church vision to build disciples of Christ and community in Christ, connected to the Body of Christ around the world. However, this is a decision that needs to be made by the full congregation” and the letter encourage the congregation to be “actively involved” in the decision through prayers, reflection, questions, comments and voting.
The session’s letter gave the rationale for seeking a new denominational home:
1. “White Clay Creek is called by God to build disciples in Jesus Christ. Enthusiastic acceptance of the authority of Scripture as a core value is critical to building disciples in Christ.
2. “While the written confessions of the PCUSA are sound and affirm the authority of Scripture, actual practice in the PCUSA demonstrates that this is no longer a core value. Scripture is no longer heeded as the primary witness for our understanding of how to please God as a corporate body or as individuals. This has resulted in a widening gap in belief between White Clay Creek and the PCUSA.
3. “Continued membership in the PCUSA will have a negative impact on the ability of White Clay to walk out the vision to which God has called us.
- “There are alternative Presbyterian denominations, such as ECO (A Covenant Order of Presbyterians) and EPC (Evangelical Presbyterian Church), which share our commitment to the authority of Scripture. Membership in such a denomination would support our ability to serve God as He has called us to serve.”
First Presbyterian, Lake Jackson, Texas
The session of the 496-member First Presbyterian Church in Lake Jackson called for an Oct. 14 congregational meeting to vote on whether to remain in the PCUSA.
The announcement on the church website stated, “For many years, arguments have raged about the authority of Scripture, the Lordship of Christ, and constitutional integrity. The PCUSA refuses to identify essential tenets; it also fails to discipline leaders who deny key elements of the faith, such as the resurrection of Jesus. Across the denomination, more than 800 churches are in the process of leaving. Since we are able to retain our property and assets, Session feels the time is right for us to seek to be dismissed.
The church, a part of New Covenant Presbytery, seeks to “worship God, share the Good News of Jesus Christ, serve the world in His name, and prepare people to be His disciples. Our values include upholding the central role of Christ in the Church and in our lives, obedience to the guidance of Scripture and the reformed traditions, proclaiming the importance of worship, faith, evangelism, Christian education and mission.”