The largest church in Riverside Presbytery is in limbo after its vote to seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) did not achieve the quorum needed to move forward.
Members of Palm Desert Community Presbyterian Church (PDCPC) in southern California gathered March 30 for a vote on dismissal to ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, but were 52 votes shy of reaching the quorum of 66 percent (488 votes) of its membership needed as required by the dismissal process outlined by Riverside Presbytery.
According to the dismissal policy, 80 percent of those present and voting would have to cast ballots in favor of leaving the PCUSA. The vote for dismissal would have included agreement to the financial terms negotiated by the presbytery and church representatives in the Gracious Discernment, Dismissal and Transfer process as well as approval of the Reformed body PDCPC planned to join.
Despite failing to meet the required quorum, the congregation went ahead and took an unofficial straw vote that showed 82 percent in favor of departing the PCUSA. Of the 436 votes cast, 359 were in favor of leaving.
Now what?
Presbytery and church officials will be meeting soon to determine the next step for the congregation of more than 700 members.
Jim Shepard, chairman of the Presbytery Response Team (PRT) that worked with Palm Desert and former moderator of the presbytery, noted that there is nothing in Riverside’s gracious separation policy that covers such an outcome, hence the need to meet with church officials and determine what lies ahead.
“This is not covered by our policy,” said Shepard, a ruling elder at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Riverside.
Had the quorum been met and 80 percent approval been given by the congregation, the issue would have been turned over to the Vision Coordinating Team with a recommendation to place the measure before the full presbytery for approval.
The next presbytery meeting is scheduled for June 7.
Palm Desert is just the second church from Riverside Presbytery to seek dismissal. Church of the Valley, located in Apple Valley, Calif., was dismissed in November 2013. Shepard said there are no other churches from the presbytery engaged in the dismissal process at this time.
Seeking to make a move
The Palm Desert session had proposed making ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians the new denominational home for the church, located east of Palm Springs in Riverside County and started in 1948.
The Palm Desert session voted on July 24, 2012, to pursue dismissal from the PCUSA following the change in ordination standards for pastors, elders and deacons that took effect in 2011 as well as a vote on a proposal to change the definition of marriage that narrowly was defeated at the 220th General Assembly (2012) and direction that the definition of marriage should be studied with the issue to return before the GA in 2014.
“The fact that such a proposal was brought to a vote reinforces our disagreement with the direction of the PCUSA,” read a letter from the session to the congregation. “The decision (to seek dismissal) was arrived at after months of study, deliberation and much prayer, and we believe this decision is essential in order for us to remain faithful to the Word of God and live according to the Lord’s will.”
In a rationale for change from the session, PDCPC highlighted the growing theological drift of the PCUSA in three main areas:
- Universalism, or multiple ways to salvation, including through Jesus Christ;
- Subjectivism, or an individual determination of the Bible’s meaning rather than the historic creeds of confessions of the denomination; and
- Cultural compromise, or taking into consideration marriage as a union between two people, regardless of gender, and sexual expression that is not limited to marriage between a husband and wife but can take place in any committed relationship.
In short, the drift is based on how Scripture is now interpreted. Rather than dealing with such issues, Palm Desert opted to spend energies on renewal in the Holy Spirit, mission, evangelism and church growth, choosing to join another body of Reformed Presbyterian believers to do so.
Attempts to reach church officials about the matter were unsuccessful by The Layman.
5 Comments. Leave new
Setting high quotas for votes of this nature is both logical and illogical at the same time. Given the importance of the vote it is reasonable to expect a high percentage of members to turn out. On the other hand, membership rolls, no matter how well kept, always contain a percentage of peripheral members who simply are not that engaged in church governance matters. And a number of members are always going to be absent for congregational meetings, no matter how important. The law typically does not require super-quorums for meetings, and recognize that for non-profits which do not allow proxy voting have a high degree of difficulty in getting large percentages for meetings. Thus governance by those who show up is typically sufficient. While I personally cannot imagine missing a vote of this importance, not everyone is as engaged. Given those realities, super-quotas don’t make sense.
The bigger problem is the illogical results which can occur. By any measure a church like Palm Desert did achieve a super quorum – just not the full 66%. (10% is usually sufficient). So now there is a super majority of a super quorum which expressed its intent, and by Presbytery fiat in declaring a too-high quorum has left them in limbo. This cannot be permitted to stand, as it binds the consciences of the super-majority of the congregation in an artificial and illogical manner.
When you think about it – if a 70% quorum had been achieved and the vote passed, the Presbytery would still want to poll the remaining 30% to see where they stand. This would be logical, as every member has the right to decide where they wish to worship, and with which denomination they wish to be affiliated. So, in the same manner, the church and presbytery should poll the remaining members of Palm Desert, and if the super majority quorum is actually achieved, then let them go forth in accordance with their consciences. Such would be a simple and dignified means of answering the question and avoiding “limbo”
•Universalism, or multiple ways to salvation, including through Jesus Christ;
•Subjectivism, or an individual determination of the Bible’s meaning rather than the historic creeds of confessions of the denomination; and
•Cultural compromise, or taking into consideration marriage as a union between two people, regardless of gender, and sexual expression that is not limited to marriage between a husband and wife but can take place in any committed relationship.
In defense of the denomination:”multiple ways to salvation, including through Jesus Christ.” Paul was on his WAY to Damascus “if he found any of this WAY, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem” (Acts 9:2). The Lord had another WAY in mind, and Paul was saved.
“An individual determination of the Bible’s meaning.” When it came time for Philip to explain the gospel he proceeded from Scripture – his understanding of it – not from the confessions. Acts 8:35: “Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.” “or taking into consideration marriage as a union between two people” I think the denomination’s point is “And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband … For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.” (1 Cor. 7:10-14)
“The law typically does not require super-quorums for meetings, and recognize that for non-profits which do not allow proxy voting have a high degree of difficulty in getting large percentages for meetings.”
What’s a “super-quorum,” Forrest? If you think of a church dismissal as a divorce proceeding, then let’s put the matter before the whole denomination! I agree with the 292 members who boycotted the vote: “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:4).
Regardless of the high wall to departure, those who voted to leave and failed will find a way.
How many will vote with their feet and money to find a new church home, one that preaches, teaches, and honors scripture and elevates the Confessions to a high standard?
If the Presbytery has some grey hairs in its leadership, wisdom will prevail. The church will
depart in peace and full of grace and thankfulness.
So be it, James. 1 Cor. 7:15: ” But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.”