By John Barrette, The Nevada Appeal
First Presbyterian Church members in Carson City will vote Oct. 19 on whether to leave Presbyterian Church (USA) for affiliation with an emerging group of orthodox Presbyterian congregations.
The decision to join “ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians” comes in the aftermath of the PCUSA easing its outlook on gay clergy and marriage, though the Rev. Bruce Kochsmeier, the Carson City congregation’s senior pastor, said the imminent prospect for change has nothing to do with homophobia.
“We don’t take our direction from culture,” he said, instead putting trust in scripture and preferring a position that “supports Biblical authority.” He said his members will still be Presbyterians and likened the change, if it’s approved as he anticipates, to be positive. He views it as setting his church up for a sound future.
The minister said the Presbytery of Nevada already has approved the leave taking, which he termed a release, and he likened the change to a family situation in which one part decides to “move into a room in the house that is very tenable and stable.” He said changes in the larger PCUSA, with which his church has been affiliated in the past, came at the most recent two-year national gathering.
First Presbyterian Church dismissal from PCUSA to ECO update
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As the eldest grandson of the Reverend JL Harvey, who was pastor at the Carson Church for many years, I am very pleased to see that this Church has remained true to its Christian roots and hopefully will realign itself with the ECO! It is sad to see that the PCUSA has lost its way and has given in to social pressures rather than staying true to God’s word! God bless you in your realignment to ECO!!