The session of First Presbyterian Church in Houston, Texas will vote for a second time on seeking dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) on Nov. 1. If the motion – “that First Presbyterian Church of Houston shall request dismissal from the PCUSA and affiliate with ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians” – is approved…
By Michael Gryboski, Christian Post. Presbyterian Church (USA)’s eighth largest member congregation voted this month to leave the Mainline denomination over theological differences and join the Evangelical Covenant of Presbyterians, a conservative denomination that has more than 280 member congregations. Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, a Houston, Texas-based congregation with approximately 3,700 members, was granted dismissal…
By Mark Collette, The Houston Chronicle. Regional Presbyterian leaders voted Saturday to accept the exit of two Houston-area congregations in an ongoing schism fomented by social issues including gay marriage. On a voice vote, the Presbytery of New Covenant, governing body for 95 Southeast Texas congregations, agreed to dismiss Memorial Drive Prebyterian Church in Houston…
The trustees at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC) in Houston have filed a lawsuit asking the civil court to reaffirm that the church, itself, owns its property as “supported by established law in Texas.” The trustees also filed – and was granted – a temporary restraining order to protect the church from any interference by…
Judge Wesley Ward of the Harris County District a Court issued a Temporary Injunction on behalf of FPC Houston, blocking the Presbytery of New Covenant from taking any action against the church property. The injunction came after a two day hearing at which the court heard testimony and examined documents that persuaded the court that the…
Windwood Presbyterian Church, a 1000+ member congregation just northeast of Houston, Texas has voted to disaffiliate from the Presbyterian Church (USA) and join the ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians. Windwood has been engaged in prolonged litigation with the Presbytery of New Covenant over church property issues. That dispute is not resolved by the…
By Laurie Johnson Several months ago we first reported that one of the nation’s largest churches in the Presbyterian USA denomination is considering breaking away from that affiliation. The discernment process at First Presbyterian Church Houston is underway and is already stirring up debate. Back in January, members of the First Presbyterian Church Houston voted…