At least five in October
Two more PCUSA churches vote to leave
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, October 25, 2011
Citing concern with theological rifts, two more churches have voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) over the weekend, bringing the total to at least five in October.
On Sunday, Oct. 23, Lebanon Presbyterian Church (LPC) of Lebanon, Ohio and Eastminster Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kan. voted to disaffiliate from the PCUSA and to pursue membership in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
The overwhelming votes of the churches represents a growing trend among some PCUSA churches disenchanted with the denomination’s theological shift, especially following the passage of Amendment 10A in April. The amendment deleted ordination standards addressing explicit chastity and fidelity requirements from the PCUSA constitution. The deleted standard required that ordained officers be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman, or chaste in singleness.
Lebanon
Following its morning service, Lebanon members voted 304-8 to disaffiliate from the PCUSA and join a transitional presbytery of the EPC.
“A line has been crossed where we cannot stay,” Senior Pastor Peter Larson said of the vote. “Even though this was a serious decision, there was a spirit of love, celebration and even joy,” he added.
“The Holy Spirit was powerfully present throughout worship and the congregational meeting,” he said, adding that the church’s praise band led the congregation in singing, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” during the vote count.
Larson said church leaders have been tracking the theological shift in the PCUSA for the past 20 years and had become increasingly concerned with issues surrounding the authority of Scripture.
In addition to citing the passage of 10A as an impetus to leave, the church session also voiced concerns about recent changes in the PCUSA’s Form of Government that could, in the words of a recent congregational letter, “take away [Lebanon’s] freedom.”
The session told the congregation that, under the new Form of Government (nFOG):
- “Payment of annual per capita dues (which has always been voluntary) could become mandatory.
- “The mission goals and priorities of the congregation would no longer be determined by the session but could be dictated by the presbytery, synod and General Assembly.
- “The presbytery is given power to control a congregation’s choice of pastor. When seeking a new pastor, congregations will only be able to consider those who have been pre-approved by the presbytery.”
The session also expressed concern that many in the denomination no longer viewed the Bible as God’s Word.
“There are many in the PCUSA who believe that the Scriptures are ancient, outdated documents filled with human errors, and that they no longer apply to modern life,” the session stated. “Increasingly, the Bible is not viewed as the Word of God, but merely as a guide that we are free to ignore,” they added.
The session leaders added: “As a result, the authority of Scripture has been eroded to the point where it has been replaced by human wisdom, and where every interpretation of Scripture is considered equally valid.”
“Certainly the main issue is the authority of Scripture,” Larson said, adding “We must be faithful to Scripture.”
In making its decision, the church session stated it relied on three principles throughout the process:
- “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.”
Church leaders say that Lebanon has tried to work within the denomination for many years without success.
“With great patience, we have remained loyal to a denomination that we cherished,” a church statement reads. “However, as we look to the future of this congregation we must consider our association with a denomination that is marked by dysfunction and decline. If we remain in the PCUSA, we believe our witness to Christ will be greatly diminished and compromised.”
Prior to the Oct. 23 vote, the 893-member church held a series of “fireside chats” on Sunday mornings to provide information and answer questions about the process.
“Very simply, a church that dishonors Jesus Christ and disobeys His commands will not be honored or blessed by God,” Larson said.
As for the future, Larson said the Presbytery of Miami Valley is not seeking the church’s property or financial assets but, rather, is asking Lebanon to pay per-capita funds through 2012 – a request he says the session will consider.
Unlike some departing churches, Lebanon has never withheld per-capita funds in protest.
In 2010, according to PCUSA Research Services, Lebanon collected $963,116 in offerings and paid $23,227 in per-capita.
Miami Valley appointed an administrative commission to negotiate the process. According to presbytery documents, the commission “shall not have the authority to assume original jurisdiction [of Lebanon] without a subsequent action of the presbytery” unless the church transfers property or assets or unless Lebanon files litigation.
“Our presbytery has been extremely gracious,” Larson said of the process.
Miami Valley voted 58-36 in favor of Amendment 10A and also approved nFOG.
Eastminster
Following an Oct. 2 recommendation from its session, Eastminster Presbyterian Church voted on Oct. 23 — 650-17 — to disaffiliate from the PCUSA. The disaffiliation would be “effective upon notification by session to the Presbytery of Southern Kansas as soon as possible following adjournment.” The congregation also agreed to affiliate with the EPC as soon as possible.
“Eastminster would likely be accepted as a transitional member in the EPC within a week or two,” the session stated in a message to the congregation, adding that as a transitional member of the EPC, Eastminster would be a non-voting member until they are accepted into full membership.
“Trust has been eroded due to controversial political positions taken on behalf of the denomination by its leadership, the biased way of enforcing the constitution and at times the underhanded way of dealing with congregations seeking to leave the denomination,” the church stated in a blog post.
“The culmination of these actions has resulted in a near total breakdown of trust within the denomination.”
The session explained that joining the EPC would “provide a nourishing and stimulating environment for Eastminster that could be a catalyst for growth both inwardly and outwardly in ministry.”
In its process of discernment, which involved six informational meetings before the congregation, the session identified a “widening divide” between the church and the PCUSA:
Specifically:
- “The Authority of Scripture:” “Many in the progressive wing of the PCUSA believe that God speaks to us in many ways and that revelation can come from a variety of sources and most significantly through the subjective means of personal experience as well as Scripture,” the session stated. “This reduces the authority of Scripture to a level equal to, and at times less than, the subjective authority of personal experience.” According to Eastminster’s website, the church believes that: “The Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit are the Word of God and therefore the only infallible rule of faith and life, the final auth
ority by which to judge all controversies in the church and to which all appeals are to be made.” - “The exclusivity of the saving work of Jesus Christ:” “[The Progressive wing of the PCUSA] claim this grace is so extravagant and generous it cannot be limited to one simple perspective or experience i.e., Christianity, but may be expected to be manifested in and through other religions and faiths.”
- Missions: “The primary focus of missions in the PCUSA is expressing love and striving for social justice in the world with little or no effort to share the gospel of the saving work of Jesus Christ.”
The session also pointed out that, with the passage of 10A, the wording in ordination standards had been changed from “the requirement of being ‘obedient’ to Scripture to being ‘guided’ by Scripture.”
“The PCUSA has left us by departing from the Biblical and historical standards that Eastminster embraces,” the session stated.
Messages left with the church and with the Presbytery of Southern Kansas have not been returned as of Tuesday so it’s not known how the two groups will negotiate church property or other terms.
The presbytery overwhelmingly voted down Amendment 10A, 33-66 and also rejected nFOG by a narrow 40-42 vote.
Eastminster includes 2,302 members and reported $3.9 million in offerings for 2010, according to PCUSA Research Services. Its per-capita allocation in 2010 was $56,000.