Presbytery votes to wrest control of
local churches that ‘contemplate’ leaving
The Layman , September 30, 2008
The Presbytery of South Louisiana voted 45-20 on Sept. 23 to approve an aggressive attack plan for wresting control of local congregations and securing property ownership for the denomination if the congregation’s leaders “contemplate” leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The plan, a “Policy on the Severance of Relations between a Particular Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA) including Disposition of Property,” applies to all congregations in the presbytery except two that are involved in civil litigation over the ownership of their property — Carrollton Presbyterian Church and Canal Presbyterian Church, both of New Orleans.
The essence of the document is a strategy of intimidation and usurpation of powers that rivals the “Louisville Papers” that were written by lawyers who worked under the direction of former PCUSA Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick.