By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post.
Brighton Presbyterian Church, a small congregation located in Rochester, New York.
A small congregation in New York has voted unanimously to leave Presbyterian Church (USA) following the mainline denomination’s recent vote to approve gay marriage.
Brighton Presbyterian Church, a 200-year-old congregation in Rochester, voted Sunday to seek dismissal from its PCUSA regional body, the Presbytery of Genesee Valley.
The vote to disaffiliate came not long after a majority of presbyteries in PCUSA approved an amendment to their Book of Order defining marriage to include same-sex couples.
Kerry E. Luddy, spokeswoman for Brighton Presbyterian and wife of the head pastor, told The Christian Post that the decision to leave “is not a sudden decision.”
“We have been prayerfully considering this for about two years, and officially began the discernment process in mid-2014,” said Luddy.
“Our reason for leaving is centered on the status of biblical interpretation within the PCUSA. We believe that Scripture’s meaning and intent should not be altered to fit a current culture.”
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It’s informative to contrast Ms Luddy’s quote with one by John Shuck, who is currently experiencing his 15 minutes of fame. Luddy writes ” We believe that Scripture’s meaning and intent should not be altered to fit a current culture” Shuck quoting Robert Funk, the founder of the Jesus Seminar, posts “Leadership is finding a parade and getting in front of it” I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Romans ” Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you may be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will”
I’m sure the PC(USA) leadership is counting on the 50-year exodus bottoming out soon. What if it doesn’t?
PCUSA data show that this church went from a membership well over 200 to 37 since 2007. Seems that perhaps there are other issues they should be thinking about?
Hmmmm … since 2007, lets see what has happened since 2007 .. oh yeah, a bunch of things coming out of GAs that orthodox Presbyterians are upset with, so they walk.
Strange how that happens.
So 37 people voted to leave and this is a headline article???
If that was the story maybe not. The story is a PCUSA church whose membership exceeded the average membership of the denomination in 2007 has lost over 80% of it’s members in the last 8 years and after prayerful discernment believes the denomination’s renunciation of it’s Confessions requires it to leave. That is something worth noting.
The “Truth in Jesus Christ” is that all are children of God and are included in the love and including odd him. A church having gone from over 200 membership to 37 had more serious concerns than they explain.
It will be as soon as the Presbytery either claims the property for the PCUSA or it sets an exhorbitant price for the property.
I have been wondering about congregations leaving the PCUSA and whether anyone has statistics comparing presbyteries that voted AGAINST the initiatives versus presbyteries that voted FOR.
In other words, are congregations that are generally opposed to the liberalizing initiatives MORE likely to leave if they are within a presbytery that has FAVORED them than if they are in a presbytery that holds the same position?