Having started my Christian walk within the Presbyterian church, it saddens me to not only be witnessing a split in the denomination, but the reason why there is a split. The issue of homosexuality has become such a political statement in this country. The radical homosexual agenda has now come full circle and is taking a toll on The Church.
-Pastor Mark
Three churches — citing concerns over the liberal direction being taken by the Presbyterian Church (USA) — have been granted dismissal from their denomination and will be joining the smaller and more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church. A growing number of congregations have voted to leave the PCUSA, the largest Presbyterian denomination in the country — and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church — since the General Assembly would not affirm the singular saving Lordship of Jesus Christ (2001) and allowed leeway for the ordination of partnered homosexuals (2006).
Covenant Presbyterian Church in West Lafayette, Ind., which has over 1,000 members, had been trying to leave the PCUSA for more than a year, but the presbytery had placed an administrative commission in charge of the church to prevent a split. They were granted a dismissal this week by the Wabash Valley Presbytery — a regional governing body in the PCUSA. Similar events took place for First Presbyterian Church of Frankfort and First Presbyterian Church of Nappanee, which were both also granted dismissals this week.
David Henderson, pastor of Covenant and also part of the leadership for New Wineskins Association of Churches — a network of churches discontent with the PCUSA — explained that there was concern the denomination was accepting a wider range of theological positions that local leadership didn’t agree with. “There was also disagreement over what it meant to be faithful to Jesus’ teaching in certain areas of ethics, such as in the area of sexuality,” Henderson explained, according to the Journal Courier, a local newspaper.
The dismissal agreement with the Presbytery of Wabash Valley includes a payment of $975,000 by the three churches and a transfer of ownership by the presbytery of each church’s property. “We were determined to let love have the last word, not disagreement or frustration or hurt. And I think it has,” Henderson commented.
The three churches will officially split on April 15, and a joint closing worship service with Wabash Valley Presbytery will be held around that time. [ChristianPost.com]