First Presbyterian Church of Waitsburg Pastor Brett Moser described his congregation’s decision to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) as a “Joshua moment,” citing the familiar passage from Joshua 24:15 that concludes by saying, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
“Choose this day whom you will serve,” Moser said in reference to the passage in which Joshua displays his spiritual leadership and commitment to God by taking a definite stand for Him. “It boiled down to one simple phrase: Do we as Presbyterians believe that culture informs Scripture or does Scripture inform culture? That has been a struggle for all Christians and is exactly what is happening in our nation right now. This really became a Joshua moment for us.”
And like Joshua, FPC-Waitsburg made its decision to follow God’s will, choosing to leave the PCUSA and Presbytery of Central Washington to make a new home in ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.
The 115-member church, located in southeast Washington about 15 miles from Walla Walla, was dismissed during the Aug. 17 presbytery meeting and received a quitclaim deed Sept. 30 to finalize the process. A week later, on World Communion Sunday (Oct. 6), the congregation celebrated its move to ECO in what Moser labeled as a “renewal to our core beliefs, a reaffirmation of what we have always believed.”
Agreeable terms
Under the dismissal agreement reached, FPC-Waitsburg was required to pay its remaining per capita for 2013 as well an additional three years of per-capita payments totaling approximately $15,000. Those payments have been made.
“Luckily, we had those resources at hand, so we are free and clear, not owing anything to anyone,” Moser said.
Moser said the church lost some members during “an emotional journey for the congregation” that was painful at times as choices had to be made regarding the future.
“Everyone can believe what they want; that’s the nature of faith, but you have to choose,” he said. “That’s been a characteristic of (the PCUSA), not choosing – spiritually or theologically. That can be a detriment to the Body of Christ.”
Moser indicated that the PCUSA’s failure to affirm Scripture as authoritative tipped the scales when it came to the choice that had to be made.
“The denomination did not view Scripture as authoritative, which discredits Christ’s claim as the only way to salvation. That has a domino effect,” he said. “We can believe what we want to believe, therefore, we believe nothing.”
While going through the discernment process, many members of FPC-Waitsburg were enlightened on issues taking place at the national level they previously had not been aware of, and it was a sad time.
“In many respects the PCUSA just pretends nothing is wrong. There was sorrow for many of our members who had been part of the denomination for so long when they came to that understanding,” Moser said. “When our own denomination is not discussing problems, it’s easy to think everything was OK, but it wasn’t. It was rough getting to that point.”
A new start
But once the veil was lifted and eyes were opened wide, the decision to leave for ECO and a new start was an obvious one.
“We like that it is more streamlined,” Moser said of the newest Presbyterian denomination. “It is more horizontal. It eliminates all the committees and councils needed to take action and is a true Reformed body.”
The affinity model holding pastors and congregations accountable to each other also was a perk for ECO as well as its clear affirmation of the essential tenets.
“A lack of accountability has contributed to disasters occurring within many denominations,” Moser said. “We’re going into a denomination that is not top heavy. It’s not a matter of going from one bureaucracy to another. We like the idea of being part of something new and looking at a new way of doing things.”
Working together
Moser noted that the process, though sad at times, was a cordial one with the presbytery.
“They came alongside us and walked us through the discernment and dismissal processes,” he said. “There was not a hidden agenda. Once we made the decision to leave, we were ready to move on. We did not encounter any political opposition that other presbyteries might have.”
The pastor said the presbytery acted very “Presbyterian” in its dealings with the departing congregation.
“The team that worked with us was very diligent in its duties, doing things decently and in order,” Moser added. “We did not encounter the resistance that maybe other congregations have. It was a very brotherly and Christ-like process.”
Time of transformation
Moser said his congregation is not looking at the move to ECO as a “transfer” but a “transformation,” observing that FPC-Waitsburg already is taking steps to address ECO’s model of mission work.
“We need to embrace our new calling and use it as an opportunity to grow and change,” he said, noting challenges facing the church as an institution. “We need to evangelize and be looking to share the Word and Gospel of Jesus Christ.
“We need to be the Body of Christ to provide a place of fellowship and encouragement and take His Word beyond these four walls.”
2 Comments. Leave new
This whole process has been an exciting time for me. We as members of the Body of Christ here in Waitsburg had to step out of our comfort zone and wrestle with what we believe. Many of the church members have taken a stand for the Word of God as Truth in our lives. We want to follow Christ and share His love with a lost and hurting world. I personally hope that now we can stand together on the firm foundation of the Bible and look forward to the Kingdom work He has for us.
I’m curious as to how the congregation got from passively accepting the PCUSA’s conforming to the culture rather than scripture to the point of the veil being lifted.