Presbytery, 2,000-member Oregon
congregation draft separation proposal
By John H. Adams, The Layman, October 29, 2008
A committee of the Presbytery of the Cascades and representatives of Sunset Presbyterian Church, a 2,000-member congregation in Portland, have worked out a proposed agreement that would allow the church to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) with its property.
Dismissal agreement
for Kenton Church
also being considered
The Layman
The Presbytery of the Cascades will also consider the request for dismissal by Kenton United Presbyterian Church in Portland during its November meeting.
A Presbytery resolution team has also recommended an agreement that would allow Kenton to become an Evangelical Presbyterian Church congregation.
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One of the conditions approved in the proposed agreement is that Kenton would contribute $7,500 over five years to the presbytery’s mission.
Also, the name of the church would change to Kenton Church EPC.
During services on Oct. 12, 19 and 26, Sunset’s members voted on the proposal to seek dismissal to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The presbytery will vote on the proposal during its Nov. 7-8 meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Portland. The congregation does not plan to release the results until the presbytery meets.
The joint agreement was drafted by the presbytery’s Resolution Team and the congregation’s Denominational Discussion Team, a body appointed by the session. The elders had voted unanimously to seek dismissal from the presbytery.
Acknowledging many occasions when the presbytery provided financial help for the congregation, the agreement calls for financial commitments by Sunset to:
- Help underwrite some of the presbyteries administrative costs through three annual payments of $41,000 – a total of $123,000.
- Make seven contributions of $45,000 a year to support presbytery missions – a total of $315,000.
The agreement includes this statement: “We are fully aware that these proposals will not meet the expectations of many members of the Presbytery and Sunset; that these proposals call mutually on Sunset and the Presbytery to make material sacrifices; and to risk setting precedent for other churches departing to EPC from the Presbytery. In making this agreement we acknowledge that we have fundamental differences over the interpretation of the Constitution of the PCUSA and grounds for determination of these differences by civil courts. However, we share the belief that Scripture calls us to seek in all humility to resolve our disagreements and avoid the harm that is done to the Gospel and the Church universal when Christians find themselves resorting to civil litigation and witness to their brokenness rather than the love of neighbor and of enemies that Christ commands us to practice.”
While the draft says the “proposed plan should in no way be interpreted as a concession by either body to the ‘rightness’ or superiority of the other’s convictions and understandings,” Sunset church does cite on its Web site a number of disagreements with the denomination.
In a 12-page document titled “Denominational Frequently Asked Questions and Resources,” the congregation’s leaders say the denomination “is dominated by the liberal wing. General Assembly is not enforcing the constitution of PCUSA and the liberal wing is pushing a social and political agenda that directly contradicts the current Book of Order as well as Sunset’s essential beliefs.”
Sunset leaders cite three key differences:
- “Christology (the lordship of Jesus Christ). Is Jesus THE way or one of many ways to the Father?”
- “Authoritative Interpretation of Scripture. Is the Bible the final authority for spiritual truth or is it just a book of wisdom that is subject to interpretation?”
- “Ordination standards. Is it right to ordain pastors who disregard scripture and/or practice immoral behavior?”
- “The Mission of the Church. Is the main priority of the church to bring people to Christ or to pursue a political and social agenda?”
According to denominational data, Sunset’s membership at the end of 2007 was 1,957. Sunday school attendance averaged 3,911 and the average turnout for Sunday worship services was 2,067.