Montreat church schedules meetings to decide if it should leave the PCUSA
The Layman Online, September 22, 2006
Citing what it called “the denomination’s increasing distance from historic, Biblical faith,” the session of Montreat Presbyterian Church has scheduled a series of congregational meetings to determine if it should “request dismissal to another Reformed body of its choice.”
The session is recommending that, if the congregation votes to be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA), it seek admission to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The congregation holds worship services in Gaither Chapel, which is owned by Montreat College.
Stated Clerk Alex Miller told The Layman Online that the session mailed a letter explaining the session’s action to the 438 members of the Confessing Church congregation and notified Sam Marshall, interim executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina.
The letter talks about the congregation’s youth ministry growing to more than 90 students; having “more people involved in missions than any time we are aware of;” a surge in worship attendance; and other successes during the past year.
Saying that their “first priority is faithfulness to our Savior who calls us to proclaim his glorious news,” the session writes that its “ability to do this in partnership with the PCUSA, however, has been overwhelmed by its ongoing crisis of Biblical authority. This was most recently evidenced by the actions of the past General Assembly, but the roots reach back much further. The cumulative result has been to move the church from under the authority of Scripture alone to the authority of tradition as defined by the PCUSA at the moment.”
“We have seen this move as the direction of our denomination for many years but have remained, believing that God was calling us to proclaim the gospel to both a world that is lost and a denomination that is faltering,” the session writes, adding:
“However, with the denomination’s increasing distance from historic, Biblical faith it is no longer possible for us to continue the former while connected to the latter.”
The complete text of the session’s letter is as follows:
“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the Lord for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.” Isaiah 12:4-5
“In the last year we have seen the Lord do glorious things in our church. The youth ministry has over 90 students; we have more people involved in missions than any time we are aware of; worship attendance has blossomed with two distinct services; the Morning School has grown to capacity and is serving even more effectively in reaching unchurched families; and, perhaps most notably, God has renewed our sense of fellowship and community among the body. We rejoice in our calling to make this known to all the world. Our first priority is faithfulness to our Savior who calls us to proclaim His glorious news.
“Our ability to do this in partnership with the PCUSA, however, has been overwhelmed by its ongoing crisis of Biblical authority. This was most recently evidenced by the actions of the past General Assembly, but the roots reach back much further. The cumulative result has been to move the church from under the authority of Scripture alone to the authority of tradition as defined by the PCUSA at the moment.
“We have seen this move as the direction of our denomination for many years but have remained, believing that God was calling us to proclaim the gospel to both a world that is lost and a denomination that is faltering. However, with the denomination’s increasing distance from historic, Biblical faith it is no longer possible for us to continue the former while connected to the latter.
“As a result the session has called four congregational meetings, the last two being contingent on the outcome of the first two meetings. Childcare will be provided at each meeting. The first meeting is for October 22, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Gaither Chapel, to discuss the following question without a vote:
“Shall the Montreat Presbyterian Church, an unincorporated religious congregation organized and existing under North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 61, request dismissal to another Reformed body of its choice?
“It is the Session’s intent that Presbytery have every reasonable opportunity to consult with the congregation in this matter until its conclusion and that the congregation be fully heard. Presbytery will be invited to send its representatives to the meeting on October 22nd. At the meeting, Presbytery’s representatives shall have the privilege of the floor.
“A second congregational meeting is called for October 29, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Gaither Chapel. After discussion, a secret ballot shall be taken on the above question. If the question passes by affirmative vote of a majority of members present, a third meeting and fourth meeting will then be held.
“If the congregation has voted to be dismissed, the third congregational meeting will then be held on November 19, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Gaither Chapel, to discuss which Reformed body the congregation would choose to be dismissed to, without a vote. The Session has carefully considered this question and unanimously recommends that, should the congregation vote to request dismissal, the congregation should choose to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The Session will share with the congregation the information which has led the Session to this recommendation.
“Again, if the congregation has previously voted to be dismissed, the fourth congregational meeting will be held on December 3rd, 2006, at 3 p.m. in Gaither Chapel. After discussion, a secret ballot shall be taken on the question of which reformed body the congregation would ask to be dismissed to, also directing the Session to seek the approval of the governing body to which the congregation is to be dismissed. The congregation will also be asked to take action directing the Trustees of Montreat Presbyterian Church that they should act, or refrain from acting as the case may be, consistent with the decision of the congregation alone, as taken at the meeting and according to law, in regard to Church property. The action of the congregation will be referred by the Session to Presbytery as a request that the Montreat Presbyterian Church be dismissed accordingly, in the spirit of gracious separation. Presbytery meets next on January 23, 2007.
“The world is desperate for the clearly spoken call of the gospel. Toward this end we continue to serve together.”