Ohio presbytery unanimously agrees to church’s dismissal to EPC
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, January 17, 2012
A 205-year-old Ohio church ended its long trek to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) after its former presbytery approved its separation on Thursday.
The Presbytery of Miami Valley, which comprises 55 PCUSA churches across 12 counties in southwestern Ohio, unanimously agreed to dissolve Lebanon Presbyterian Church (LPC) and approved a covenant of gracious dismissal between the two parties.
“When the Presbytery voted Thursday night to dissolve us as a congregation, there was a lot of sadness but no bitterness, and I thank God for that,” Senior Pastor Peter Larson said.
“I really hope this can set an example for other presbyteries to follow,” he added.
According to the separation agreement, LPC agreed to give $34,148 to Miami Valley — the equivalent of the church’s per-capita payment for 2012. The agreement also requires LPC to spend $15,000 to support an African medical mission partnership previously agreed to by the church and presbytery.
The covenant also restricts either side from pursuing any legal actions against the other.
In a process that Larson earlier described as “extremely gracious,” LPC’s journey away from the PCUSA began 20 years ago when church leaders began tracking the theological shift in the PCUSA. The session became increasingly concerned with issues surrounding the authority of Scripture.
With the approval of Amendment 10A in 2011 and the passage of the new Form of Government (nFOG), LPC began the process of formally seeking separation.
Amendment 10A deleted the explicit “fidelity/chastity” requirement from the constitutional ordination standard, and now allows the PCUSA to ordain of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people as deacons, elders and pastors. The new Form of Government has raised concerns of a more “top-down” PCUSA bureaucracy and a universalistic theology.
Miami Valley voted 58-36 in favor of Amendment 10A and also approved nFOG.
As the session prepared to bring a recommendation to dismiss to LPC’s congregation, it relied on three principles:
· “We have not left the PCUSA. Rather, we believe the PCUSA has left us by wandering from the truth.
· “Nothing at LPC has changed: It is the denomination that has changed by departing from the Word of God.
· “In faithfulness to the Lord Jesus, we believe we can no longer remain in a denomination that dishonors Christ, distorts the Bible and disobeys the commands of God.”
Prior to the vote, the 900-member church held a series of “fireside chats” on Sunday mornings to provide information and answer questions about the process.
“It was a difficult decision for us to leave the PCUSA,” Larson said. “In the past, we felt Christ calling us to stay and fight and make a positive difference in the denomination, and we’ve worked very hard to do that,” he added.
Unlike many other PCUSA presbyteries, Larson said Miami Valley never sought LPC’s property during the separation process.
“I think people in our congregation feel tremendous relief that that we were able to leave the PCUSA with our property and without any litigation,” Larson said.
“Also, we are grateful to the Presbytery of Miami Valley for displaying so much grace and wisdom in the way they’ve worked with us. Through all of this difficult process, they’ve acted in a way that honors Jesus Christ,” he added.
Larson said Miami Valley also received letters from him and LPC Associate Pastor Chuck Testas renouncing their jurisdiction as ministers in the PCUSA.
“I know some people claim that we are being schismatic by leaving the PCUSA. However, it is those who depart from Jesus Christ and disobey His Word who cause and create schism in the church,” Larson said. “By leaving the PCUSA, our congregation is remaining faithful to the historic, apostolic, orthodox faith that is embraced by hundreds of millions of Christians around the world. We haven’t left the church it’s the PCUSA that has left us.”