(By Sarah M. Wojcik, The Morning Call). The fate of the stately property on Center Street in Bethlehem, home to the largest Presbyterian church in the Lehigh Valley for 65 years, is now in the hands of Northampton County President Judge Stephen Baratta. Testimony from 14 witnesses, two of whom spoke via video feed from remote locations,…
(By Sarah M. Wojcik, The Morning Call) Leaders of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem consulted with the Lehigh Presbytery, their regional governing authority, when making land deals and financing, but that never meant the surrender of their autonomy as property owners to it, according to testimony in Day Two of the church’s property dispute…
(By Steve Salyards, The GA Junkie). Once again, in the “where angels fear to tread” territory, I wanted to muse a bit and post some brief comments on the arguments in the Northampton County Court (PA) recently between the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, Lehigh Presbytery, and the minority “stay” group. The article from The Morning…
(By Sarah M. Wojcik, The Morning Call). The Lehigh Presbytery and the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, PA, will appear in Northampton County Court on Friday (2/17/17) in hopes of settling a dispute over ownership that has led opposing congregants to hold separate Sunday services at 31-acre property on Center Street. The hearing is over a…
By Riley Yates, The Morning Call. Members of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem voted overwhelmingly Sunday to break from their national denomination, underscoring a schism that has developed over Presbyterian Church (USA)’s embrace of same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay ministers. Out of 1,048 votes, 802 members supported bolting to the more conservative Covenant…
Governing body moves to oust First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem’s pastor, replace leadership By Sarah Wojcik, The Morning Call. A dispute over denominational identity has taken another divisive turn in Bethlehem, where the Lehigh Presbytery is canceling its contract with the new pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and preparing to push aside church…
By Riley Yates, The Morning Call. A bid by First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem, Pa., to split from its national denomination, amid unhappiness over same-sex marriages and the ordination of gay ministers, landed back in the courts Tuesday. In two lawsuits filed in Northampton County Court, the regional arm of the Presbyterian Church (USA) asked a…
UPDATE: A message from the church session has been posted on the First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem web site, explaining why it asked the “Trustees to seek definitive answer to the question of the ownership of the Church’s property. Accordingly, the Trustees filed suit in the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas to simply seek confirmation from…
By Sarah M. Wojcik, The Morning Call. (Pennsylvania) The Lehigh Presbytery has determined that there is not sufficient support within the congregation of the largest Presbyterian church in the Lehigh Valley to justify its break from the most visible national branch of the denomination. But that doesn’t necessarily spell an end to the efforts by members…
By Bruce Posten, The Reading Eagle (PA.). The 202-year-old First Presbyterian Church will leave downtown Reading, becoming the latest city church to either move or make other adjustments because of dwindling numbers, financial pressures or changing demographics. First Presbyterian Church members, who have been struggling with the decision for several months, voted 84 to 31…