'Theological drift' taking toll on PCUSA denomination

By Charlie Butts

More churches are leaving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) because of its stance on homosexuality and straying from the Word of God.

Two PCUSA churches in Texas – Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas and First Presbyterian Church in Amarillo – voted late last month to leave the national body. Members of Highland Park voted 1,337-170 to leave; FPC-Amarillo members voted in similar overwhelming fashion, 438-16.

The Dallas church cited as a reason for leaving the congregation’s disagreement with the “a la carte religious beliefs taken by the national body.” An FPC-Amarillo spokesman stated the church realized “the direction and theological drift [of the PCUSA] was not a good fit.” Both churches chose to join ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

Carmen Fowler LaBerge, who heads the Presbyterian Lay Committee, tells OneNewsNow the PCUSA is feeling the pain of losing large congregations.