PCUSA Presbyteries with dismissal policies:
- Abington: the policy begins on page 31 of the minutes 11/14/2012
- Albany: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Beaver Butler: Principles and Processes For Beaver-Butler Presbytery When Churches Seek to Separate From Presbytery (Approved by Beaver-Butler Presbytery 09/11/07) — SECTION IV A.2 Addendum of Specific Guidelines as amended 072611
- Blackhawk: A Process for Congregations of Blackhawk Presbytery Considering Leaving the PCUSA (dated 11/10)
- Boise: Process for addressing churches within the Presbytery of Boise seeking to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Cascades: Presbytery of the Cascades: A process for congregations considering leaving the PCUSA
- Carlisle: A presbytery policy for congregations considering leaving the PCUSA
- Central Florida: Central Florida Presbytery Process for Pastoral Responsibility, Accountability and Gracious Witness to Congregations at Times of Division, Dismissal or Dissolution (G-11.0103) (Approved by Central Florida Presbytery 09.14.2010)
- Central Nebraska: Guidelines for dismissing a congregation of the Presbytery of Central Nebraska
- Central Washington: A Process for Discerning God’s Will in the Relationship between the Presbytery of Central Washington and its Member Congregations when Member Churches Seek Dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) (Approved June 25, 2011)
- Charleston Atlantic: Principles and Processes for Charleston Atlantic Presbytery when Churches Seek to Separate from Presbytery (adopted October 2008)
- Charlotte: Presbytery of Charlotte Commitment to Pursuing Reconciliation With Member Churches Seeking Dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Cherokee: Gracious Separation Policy, Cherokee Presbytery (adopted 2/28/12); Cherokee Presbytery COM statement on Clergy Dismissal
- Presbytery of Chicago Policy for Gracious Separation
- Cincinnati: Presbytery of Cincinnati Reconciliation and Dismissal Procedure
- Coastal Carolina: Coastal Carolina’s Policy for Churches Seeking To Separate from the PCUSA
- de Chriso: Presbytery de Cristo Policy of Commitment to Pursuing Reconciliation with Member Churches Seeking Gracious Dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Detroit: Detroit Presbytery: Guidelines for disaffected churches
- Donegal: The guiding principles of the Presbytery of Donegal in matters of discernment and dismissal.
- Eastern Virginia: Guidelines for Congregations Considering a Request for Withdrawal from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia and the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Eastminster: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Flint River: Flint River Presbytery Church Dismissal Policy 2012 (November 2012)
- Florida: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Foothills: Gracious Dismissal Policy
- Presbytery of Genesee Valley: Guidelines and Procedures for Reconciliation or Dismissal of Its Member Congregations
- Giddings-Lovejoy: Process for addressing churches within the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy seeking separation from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Grace: Policy for a just and gracious dismissal of a congregation to another Reformed denomination
- Grand Canyon: Grand Canyon Presbytery Policy for Congregations Desiring a Departure from The PC(USA); (Approved at 9/15-16/2006 presbytery meeting, amended at 6/11/11 presbytery meeting)
- Great Rivers: Presbytery of Great Rivers Dialogue, Discernment and Reconciliation Policy (Updated 07/18/11)
- Greater Atlanta: Presbytery of Greater Atlanta Policy for Gracious Separation (dated September 20, 2011)
- Heartland: Report of the Administrative Commission for Churches Seeking Dismissal from the Denomination to address questions of legal action and expenses in defense of the PC(USA) Constitution and a Presbyterian Theology of Property (Feb. 2012)
- Hudson River: The Presbytery of Hudson River Gracious Dismissal Guidelines
- Inland-Northwest: Gracious Dismissal Procedure for Administrative Commission
- James: Guidelines for Churches Considering a Request to the Presbytery of the James to be Dismissed to another Denomination
- John Calvin: Policy for congregations seeking dismissal
- Kendall: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Kiskiminetas: A Process for Discerning God’s Will in the Relationship between the presbytery and its member congregations when member churches seek dismissal from the PCUSA
- Lackawanna: Policy and procedure for the dismissal of churches in the presbytery of Lackawanna
- Lake Huron: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Lehigh: Policy and procedure for the dismissal of churches in the Lehigh presbytery (approved Sept. 27, 2011; amended Nov. 27, 2012)
- Los Ranchos: Presbytery of Los Ranchos Property Policy and Procedures
- Mid South: Presbytery of the Mid-South Proposed Procedures, Guidelines, and Standards for Dismissing Congregations (approved by the presbytery at its May 15th, 2007 stated meeting)
- Middle Tennessee: Presbytery of Middle Tennessee Policy Governing Dismissal of Congregations
- Mission: Process for pastoral responsibility, accountability and gracious witness to congregations at times of division, dismissal or dissolution (2012)
- Mississippi: Recommended guidelines for withdrawl of a congregation from the PCUSA (approved 2011; provisional until February 2012 presbytery meeting)
- Missouri River Valley: Presbytery of Missouri River Valley Gracious Reconciliation and Dismissal Policy
- Monmouth: Gracious Discernment Policy of the Presbytery of Monmouth
- Muskingum Valley:Guidelines for Seeking Reconciliation and/or Gracious Separation
- Nevada: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- New Covenant: The Presbytery Of New Covenant’s Reconciliation and Dismissal procedure
- New Harmony: Principles and processes for New Harmony Presbytery when churches seek to separate from presbytery
- New Hope: Policy for considering gracious dismissal to another Reformed denomination (2012)
- New York City:Policy can be found beginning on page 32 of pdf from presbytery meeting(Approved January 29, 2013)
- North Central Iowa: Policy on Dismissing Congregations from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Olympia: Presbytery of Olympia Discerning God’s Leading Together (revised Sept. 2014)
- Pacific: Presbytery of the Pacific Gracious Dismissal Policy (dated Oct. 13, 2010)
- Peaks: Gracious Dismissal Policy
- Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh Presbytery’s Policy and Procedures for All Congregations Requesting a Gracious Separation
- Plains & Peaks: Presbytery of Plains and Peaks: Responding to Disaffected Churches Policy
- Pueblo: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Redstone: Redstone Presbytery Policy on Congregations Considering Making a Request to Leave the PCUSA
- Riverside: Policy for Dismissal of a Congregation from the Presbytery of Riverside
- Sacramento: Presbytery of Sacramento Gracious Policy for Reconciliation or Dismissal of Congregations.
- Salem: Salem Presbytery Policy for Congregations Considering a Request of Dismissal From the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- San Diego: a unique approach called “Next Wave“
- San Francisco: Policy and Procedure for the Dismissal of Churches in the Presbytery of San Francisco (Approved September 15, 2009; currently under reconsideration/amendment)
- San Gabriel: San Gabriel Presbytery Policy for Gracious Dismissal to Another Reformed Body (dated Sept. 27, 2011). Currently being amended/revised
- San Joaquin: Presbytery of San Joaquin Property Covenant (Adopted April 12, 2007)
- San Jose: The Presbytery of San Jose policy regarding dismissing congregations (Gracious Dismissal Policies, Revised July 23,2011). This policy is currently “suspended” as the presbytery Stated Clerk ruled it “out of compliance” with a recent PJC decision. The policy is being amended/revised.
- Santa Barbara: Policy for a Process of Reconciliation or Gracious Dismissal of a Congregation from the PCUSA
- Scioto Valley: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Seattle: Communal Discernment and Gracious Separation Policy
- Shenango: Proposed Gracious Policies for the Withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) of a Congregation of Shenango Presbytery
- South Alabama: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- South Dakota: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- South Louisiana: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Southeastern Illinois: Guidelines and practices for congregations who may be considering separation from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Southern Kansas: Presbytery of Southern Kansas Process for Congregations Considering Leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Southern New England: (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
- Stockton: Policy for Gracious Dismissal (Jan 2012)
- St Augustine: Presbytery of St. Augustine: Dismissing Congregations to other Reformed Bodies
- Tampa Bay: Gracious Communion Process, Constructive Engagement and Communal Discernment
- Tropical Florida: Process and Principles for Tropical Florida Presbytery in the Transference of a member congregation to another Reformed body (now under reconsideration/revision)
- Twin Cities Area: Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area Discernment Process with Member Churches Exploring Gracious Separation from the Presbyterian Church (USA)
- Wabash Valley: Policy for conversations with those considering separation from the PCUSA
- Washington: Process for Separation
- Western North Carolina: “Guidelines for Congregations Considering A Request to Presbytery to be Dismissed” (approved 7/30/13)
- Wyoming: Policy for the Presbytery of Wyoming Concerning Gracious Separation
- Yukon (if you have a Word, pdf file or link to this policy please email laymanletters@layman.org)
Background and important information about dismissal policies:
- The 218th General Assembly approved a commissioner’s resolution urging a gracious, pastoral response to churches requesting dismissal from the PCUSA.
- Guest commentary: Presbytery dismissal policies: The good, the bad and the ugly
PCUSA documents:
- FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: GRACIOUS DISMISSAL POLICIES AFTER TOM V. PBY OF SAN FRANCISCO (GAPJC Remedial Case 221-03)
- Processes for use by presbyteries in responding to congregations seeking to withdraw
- Advisory Opinions: Note 19 Implementing the Trust Clause for the Unity of the Church
PCUSA’s “privileged and confidential” documents by denominational lawyers calling on presbyteries to use draconian measures when claiming local church property:
1 Comment. Leave new
Please give brie descriptions of; EPC & ECO
Please list churches in Flint River Presb. that have withdrawn or are in the process of with drawl.
Thank yor,
Archie