Georgia church waits for presbytery’s dismissal decision
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, August 15, 2011
A Georgia church’s attempt to be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA) is now in the hands of its presbytery.
After voting to leave the PCUSA by an overwhelming, 94-percent majority, the Cumming-based congregation requested dismissal to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church at the July stated meeting of Cherokee Presbytery.
Parkway elder David Miller asked the presbytery to grant the request. The church cites the PCUSA’s May adoption of Amendment 10A as one factor in its decision. The measure deletes the chastity/fidelity ordination clause from the Book of Order, and will allow presbyteries to ordain gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered candidates as ministers, elders and deacons.
In November, Cherokee Presbytery voted down 10A by a vote of 49-62.
After joining the Confessing Church Movement in 2001, the church published several affirmations in agreement with the movement including: “God’s Word calls all Christians to either (a) fidelity in marriage between a husband and wife or (b) chastity in singleness; that calling and standard applies to all ordained officers of the church, as well as to all disciples.”
Additionally, Parkway affirms in its statement of beliefs that “the Scriptures [are] our only authority in matters of faith and practice” and that the Bible is “verbally inspired by God and inerrant and infallible in the original writings, and that they are of supreme and final authority.”
During the July meeting, Cherokee Presbytery voted to refer the motion to a coordinating team to consider the next step. The team is expected to present a recommendation in September.
According to Parkway’s recent newsletter, the church has received $385,535 in revenue so far this year.
Cherokee’s 2011 “Asking Budget” to member churches is $779,300, according to 2010 minutes.
Unlike many presbyteries, Cherokee does not receive per-capita funds but passes them on to the synod and General Assembly level.
“You may be interested to know that in all of the other places where I have served, there is a three-level per capita (GA, synod and presbytery), but here we have only two components to per capita (GA and Synod of the Southeast),” Cherokee Stated Clerk Rebecca Blackwell stated in a letter to member churches.
“Cherokee Presbytery administrative and mission expenses are covered entirely by your mission gifts,” she added.
Representatives of Cherokee Presbytery declined to comment about the process with Parkway.
Parkway Church is expected to comment in the next few days. The Layman will update this report as needed.