Another EPC migration
Mt. Pleasant seeks dismissal
from Pennsylvania presbytery
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, April 14, 2011
A Southwestern Pennsylvania church is seeking dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA), bringing the total dismissals from its governing presbytery to four in as many years.
Citing a growing theological rift with the PCUSA, Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church of Raccoon Township, Pa. voted unanimously on April 10 to seek dismissal to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
The 134-0 vote begins an emancipation process between the 134-year-old church and the Beaver-Butler Presbytery that Mt. Pleasant leaders expect will end amicably.
“Mt. Pleasant has struggled for years with the huge differences between our belief in the ultimate authority of Scripture and the actions of the PCUSA,” Mt. Pleasant clerk of session Bill Kendall said in an e-mail.
“We find that we can no longer tolerate the actions of the PCUSA, and also are concerned that the impending removal of the fidelity and chastity clause from the Book of Order, which could trigger a mass exodus,” he added, referring to upcoming PCUSA ballot measures on Amendment 10A, nFOG and the BelharConfession.
“The New Form of Government … may cause the PCUSA to become even more restrictive with congregations seeking dismissal,” Kendall said.
According to some church members, the rift between the church and the PCUSA began a few years ago when the denomination began to make statements the congregation felt were not in keeping with Mt. Pleasant’s pro-life stance.
At that point, leadership advised the church to “stick it out and fight the good fight,” Kendall said.
In response, Mt. Pleasant held back some of its per-capita funds from the PCUSA and directed them to a pro-life organization.
Kendall said many of his friends would have liked to visit or join Mt. Pleasant but would not due to the church’s affiliation with the PCUSA.
In 2010, a majority of the congregation became upset when they heard on conservative talk radio programs about controversial overtures being presented at the PCUSA General Assembly, especially measures concerning same-sex marriage and ordination of gay people.
“That, I think, was kind of the tipping point,” Kendall said.
“A couple of our members heard these things and they wanted to talk to the preachers and talk to the elders,” he added.
Although some incensed members wanted to leave the PCUSA immediately, the church’s elders and session agreed to meet with the congregation to gauge a proper response; ultimately deciding to hold the April 10 dismissal vote.
Mt. Pleasant now begins the process of dismissal with Beaver-Butler and is working with a presbytery response team to address separation issues such as property disposal. The presbytery currently has 83 member congregations.
Kendall said the church owns a 12-year-old building as well as land, which he estimates is worth $500,000 fair-market value with a $475,000 mortgage.
“In terms of a property settlement for assets, we hold the trump cards,” Kendall said, since the property is attached to such a large mortgage. His best guess is the negotiation will start with the presbytery asking for 10-percent of the property resale value.
Even is the church doesn’t get the settlement they seek, Kendall said it won’t change the congregation’s mind.
“We’re willing to walk away,” he said.
Unlike many relationships involving dismissals, Kendall said the church has no quarrel with Beaver-Butler, a presbytery he considers conservative.
“We have been reluctant to leave mainly because of our being in the Beaver-Butler Presbytery, with which we agree with on almost all major issues,” he said, adding “We think the whole presbytery should leave.”
Kendall’s analysis appears to be correct.
According to a Layman report in 2006, Beaver-Butler was one of 10 presbyteries to withhold per-capita funds in 2005 to the tune of $44,574.
“All of the presbyteries on the list of highest amounts withheld have voted overwhelmingly in support of the denomination’s ordination requirement that prohibits ordaining people who violate the ‘fidelity/chastity’ standard,” the report stated.
Beaver-Butler also approved “An Open Declaration to the PCUSA” in response to actions deemed unscriptural by the 2008 General Assembly, stating:
“We will continue to uphold Biblical standards for ordination, particularly in areas of sexuality regardless of any Authoritative Interpretation, Advisory Opinion, alteration to the Constitution, or retranslation of our confessions … We will not be governed by the Authoritative Interpretation adopted by the 218th General Assembly because it is constitutionally, Biblically and judicially unsustainable.
The presbytery plans to take up the dismissal at its May meeting.
“They’ve been helpful,” Kendall said. “They’re good people.”
A growing trend
Over the past few years, Beaver-Butler has decreased in its number of congregations due to dismissals, losing four congregations since 2007, according to Executive Presbyter Alan Adams.
In 2007, Chippewa Presbyterian Church in Beaver Falls, Pa., a 175-member congregation, agreed to give the presbytery $11,200 per year for three years to keep its property. The church was dismissed to the EPC.
Portersville Presbyterian Church became the second congregation to seek dismissal in December 2008. It later dismissed to the EPC.
Finally, in 2010, First Presbyterian Church of Beaver began the dismissal process to the EPC and is expected to conclude the process in May.
“We try to make [the dismissal process] as fair as possible to everyone,” Adams said.
In the case of Mt. Pleasant, the move to the EPC was a natural one, due to their shared beliefs.
“We looked at their position papers and everything they said was totally in line with our beliefs here,” Kendall said. “We couldn’t have written them better,” adding the church would “never get entangled with any denomination that claims to own our property.”
In a recent e-mail, Kendall said: “We look forward to our dismissal to the EPC where we expect to become even more effective at spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, as we will be working with like minded brothers and sisters in the faith, instead of spending much of our time apologizing for the actions of the PCUSA.”