By Mark Tooley, Juicy Ecumenism. Since the small Western Jurisdiction of United Methodism elected an openly lesbian bishop in defiance of church law, there’s been renewed conversation about schism. Some predict it with regret while some hope it would end decades of controversy between conservatives and liberals. Typically schism talk does not focus on the…
By Viola Larson, Naming His Grace blog. It was the most unusual presbytery meeting I have ever attended. It was about the Korean churches in our presbytery. The meeting was very small; most Sacramento Presbyterian Church (USA) churches, both orthodox and progressive, seem to have just given up and are allowing a few to plan the…
By Peter Johnson, Juicy Ecumenism. Schism, like everything else in the Presbyterian Church, appears to be “decently ordered.” Like the neat, clean Excel spreadsheet rows that delineate the membership decline of America’s largest Presbyterian denomination (PCUSA), the process of leaving the PCUSA is laid out for churches and groups who decide they can no longer exist under…
By Jennifer Berry Hawes ST. GEORGE – The judge presiding over the local Episcopal schism trial said Wednesday that she considers the case a matter of neutral, secular state laws and not about a hierarchical church’s authority, a potential blow to The Episcopal Church’s argument that it has the religious freedom to govern its own…
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…
By Stephen Magagnini More than 200 Presbyterian congregations nationwide have been torn asunder over the Presbyterian Church USA’s new rules and the ordination of its first gay minister. The rift has resulted in lawsuits, sold churches, broken friendships and scattered congregations. The Presbyterian Church, with roughly 3 million congregants across the country, has attracted independent…
By Stephen Magagnini On a recent Sunday, members of Fremont Presbyterian Church gathered in the courtyard under the blossoming crab apple tree for coffee and conversation before going their separate spiritual ways. Divided by their differences – the congregation falls into camps of so-called progressives and traditionalists – the members nonetheless share sacred spaces at…