Thursday, July 18, 2013

St. Giles Presbyterian Church Leaves PCUSA for ECO

Layman Online Story: St Giles Pays $250,000 for exit from PCUSA
  • June 18 meeting of Presbytery of the James dismissed by voted 137-39
  • "we’re paying nearly twice the average (settlement price) as a church of our size."
  • October 2011: 18-0 session vote
  • January 2013: Straw Vote: 178 for, 8 against, 7 abstentions
  • May 2013: 165 of 175 congregants for
  • Presbytery had an investment portfolio totaling more than $4 million at the close of 2012.
  • Faced with the possibility of losing the church property, St. Giles’ leaders put off some needed repairs to the facilities as well as a capital campaign.
  • Four other churches are seeking to be dismissed by the presbytery.
    • Christ Presbyterian-ECO
    • Crestwood Presbyterian-ECO
    • Third Presbyterian (Richmond) -ECO
    • Spotsylvania Presbyterian (Fredericksburg) - EPC

Rockville PC (S.C.) leaves PCUSA for EPC

Layman Online Story: Rockville church gets out of PCUSA; pastor overcomes ecclesiastical accusations
  • Rockville Presbyterian Church
  • The 125-member church
  • Founded in 1850
  • Wadmalaw Island in Charleston County, S.C.
  • Congregational meeting on May 15 resulted in a unanimous vote
  • Released May 18 to EPC
  • Witch hunt by the presbytery, against the Pastor.
  • $45,000 property and $10,000 “fair share” contributions to the presbytery.
  • First church to seek dismissal from Charleston Atlantic Presbytery

Monday, June 10, 2013

First Presbyterian Church(Hendersonville, NC) votes for re-affiliation

Blue Ridge Now Story: First Presbyterian Church votes for re-affiliation
  • Hendersonville
  • 81% Vote
  • PCUSA -> EPC
  • five churches a week are leaving the denomination
  • Presbytery of Western North Carolina

Thursday, May 2, 2013

U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear Indiana church property case

Layman Online Story: U.S. Supreme Court refuses to hear church property case

Presbytery of Ohio Valley and the Synod of Lincoln Trails of the Presbyterian Church (USA) vs. Olivet Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Inc.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

FPC Waynsboro, Staunton, VA church splits PCUSA/EPC

Layman Online Story: Members of Virginia church have parting of ways
  • First Presbyterian Church of Waynesboro, located west of Charlottesville in Staunton, Va
  • Session members resign on March 17
  • Presbytery of Shenandoah assumed original jurisdiction
  • 375 members
  • The session had voted by a 10-2 margin in November 2012 to seek dismissal from the PCUSA
  • Over 100 members now attend Waynesboro Mission Church (EPC)
  • fellowship hall of Church of the Brethren

Friday, April 26, 2013

Six Alaskan churches leave PCUSA; only nine remain in presbytery

Layman Online Story: Six Alaskan churches leave PCUSA; only nine remain in presbytery

Westminster PCUSA->EPC

Times News Story: Going their own way: Pastor leaves denomination with congregation in tow
  • Burlington, North Carolina?
  • “Out of Order: The Self-Destruction of a Mainline Denomination”, by Pastor Powell Sykes published Nov. 16, 2012
  • Mebane Presbyterian Church also switched in February.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Two Yakima, WA PCUSA churches begin leaving PCUSA, 6 more consider leaving.

Layman Online Story: Yakima Presbyterian churches considering their future

Original Story: Yakima Herald RepublicYakima Presbyterian churches considering their future

  • Westminster and First Presbyterian
  • Yakima, WA
  • Presbytery of Central Washington
  • Also Considering:
    • Terrace Heights left PCUSA a year ago, joining the EPC.
    • Bickleton
    • Prosser
    • Wenatchee
    • Ephrata
    • Roslyn
    • Moses Lake

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Six churches dismissed by Presbytery of Shenango (PA)

Layman Online Story: Pennsylvania church leaves PCUSA, joins ECO

Presbytery of Shenango (Western PA) dismissed six? churches on Feb 26. No Cost to the churches! Council Minutes (PDF)

  1. ECO - East Brook Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa.(98)
  2. EPC - Center Presbyterian Church, Grove City (164)
  3. ECO - East Main Presbyterian Church, Grove City (694)
  4. ECO - Neshannock Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa. (325)
  5. ECO - Princeton Memorial Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa. (38)
  6. ECO - Leesburg Church, Volant, PA (234)

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

FPC Cushing Ok leaves PCUSA to be independent.

Layman Online story: Oklahoma church closes, buys property from presbytery for $1

A misleading headline, a disappointing one from Layman. Although, they do spell out the terms in the article.

  • First Presbyterian Church of Cushing
  • disaffiliated from the denomination by closing it.
  • the church paid three years of per capita in the amount of $7,702.80 and $1 for the building
  • new name of First Presbyterian Church, Independent.
  • Presbytery of Cimarron
  • a city-wide meeting publicized by a mailing and newspaper ad took place Oct. 28, 2012

Leesburg (PA) PC leaves PCUSA for ECO

Layman Online Story: Leesburg PC leaves PCUSA for ECO

Friday, March 22, 2013

Mountain (PA) Church finds home with ECO

Mountain Presbyterian Church finds home with ECO
  • Sunbury, PA (Susquehanna River Valley)
  • dismissed from the PCUSA to ECO on Jan. 19
  • Presbytery of Northumberland
  • Started in 1828
  • 86 Members
  • "The presbytery was very gracious, very accommodating"
  • October 2012 unanimous vote
  • three years of per capita, totaling $7,900
  • ECO does not have per-capita payments, instead requiring a 1-percent annual fee of local church budgets

Pacolet Presbyterian Church, formed in 1751, closing its doors

Pacolet Presbyterian Church, formed in 1751, closing its doors

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Stockton PC (Alabama) was granted dismissal to join the EPC

The Layman Online Story: Stockton Presbyterian Church was granted dismissal to join the EPC
  • Presbytery of South Alabama
  • dismissal process as one that seemed to be cordial in its handling.
  • 75 members
  • Founded in 1847

FPC-Mora leaves PCUSA

Layman Online Story: FPC-Mora leaves PCUSA
  • First Presbyterian Church of Mora
  • east-central Minnesota
  • EPC
  • Presbytery of Northern Waters
  • $150,000
  • congregation voted 55-2 to accept the terms to finalize dismissal from the PCUSA.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

5 new churches were dismissed into ECO

From the Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians Facebook page: Pleased to announce that 5 new churches were dismissed into ECO as of last night. Welcome! We are pleased to share that as of last night, 5 new churches were dismissed into ECO:
  • East Brook Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA
  • East Main Presbyterian Church, Grove City, PA
  • Leesburg Presbyterian Church, Volant, PA
  • Neshannock Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA
  • Princeton Memorial Presbyterian Church, New Castle, PA
Welcome, everyone!

Florence, S.C., church dismissed to join ECO

Layman Online Story: Florence, S.C., church dismissed to join ECO

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Presbyterian church in Mechanicsville, Virginia splits UPDATED 2x

Richmond Times Displatch Story: Presbyterian church in Mechanicsville splits

New Layman Online Story: Presbytery seizes control of Virginia church

  • New Hanover Presbyterian Church
  • In November 2011, the session voted to be dismissed to EPC
  • Mechanicsville, Virginia
  • 806 Members, 85 Worship, Income $1,110,000 (2011)
  • Online survey for dismissal: 218-6
  • The new church:
  • the Presbytery of the James
    • 114 Churches
    • On Sunday, Feb 10 ,2013 the Presbytery dissolved the church’s leadership
    • AC Letter To The Congregation
    • Here are the Six Members of the Presbytery of the James' Administrative Commission assigned to NHPC.
      1. Allen Fisher, Teaching Elder, The Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg) - Moderator
      2. Edna Banes, Teaching Elder, Union Presbyterian Seminary
      3. Larry Diebold, Ruling Elder, The Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg)
      4. Alexander Evans, Teaching Elder, Second Presbyterian Church (Richmond)
      5. Don Osborne, Ruling Elder, Chester Presbyterian Church (Chester)
      6. Martha Singdahlsen, Ruling Elder, Bon Air Presbyterian Church (North Chesterfield)

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Administrative Commission formed to work with disaffiliated churches

The Layman Online Story:Administrative Commission formed to work with disaffiliated churches
  • Maumee Valley Presbytery in Findlay, Ohio
  • First Presbyterian Church of Ada, located between Dayton and Toledo Congregation: 53-0
  • First Presbyterian Church of Bucyrus found between Columbus and Toledo

Friday, February 1, 2013

Future of Lewes DE Presbyterian in question

Cape Gazette Letter to the Editor: Future of Lewes Presbyterian in question

This is a very frightening article. A left winger bashing right wingers with total disregard for freedoms and the Constitution of the USA.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Middle Smithfield PA changing denominations

Pocono Record Story: Presbyterian Church changing name, affiliation
  • Middle Smithfield Presbyterian Church -> ?
  • East Stroudsburg, PA
  • PCUSA -> EPC
  • National Register of Historic Places since 1987.
  • Since 1814

Monday, January 7, 2013

Eastminster (Marietta, GA) moving from PCUSA to ECO

Eastminster Presbyterian Church web site: Eastminster (Marietta, GA) moving from PCUSA to ECO
"The elders of this church have recently announced our intention to seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA) in order to join with a new Presbyterian denomination, The Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (or ECO)–a denomination which is young, but not novel, as it is determined to carry the best practices and doctrines of the Reformed tradition into our present day."

Cherokee Presbytery

Presbylaw temporary site.

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LINKS

TypeNameDescription
FEED PCUSA List Feed Atom Feed of Blog Posts
EMAIL PRESBYLAW webmaster Comments, corrections, updates
NEWS PRESBYWEB: Viewpoint PCUSA Property Trust History Disputed By Jeffrey C. Francis
PDF Memorial Park on Seperation Bulletin Insert for May 6th
Web Kirk's Legal Docs (pdfs) Kirk Of The Hills, Tulsa, OK
PDF PCUSA Articles of Incorporation Churches can't be a member of the PCUSA according to its own articles of incorporation
PDF Legal Strategy #1PC(USA)'s Legal Strategy for churches wanting to leave
PDF Presbyteries Process #2 PC(USA)'s Process for churches wanting to leave
Doc Secret Document #3 News about a third secret document
PDF Process Administrative Review Process from the Synod of the Northeast
PDF Presbytery Of New Covenant Process For Addressing Churches Seeking To Withdraw From PC(USA)
PDF Wabash Valley Presbytery Separatist Task Force
Doc PC(USA): Constitutional Musings: Note 12 Responding Pastorally to Troubled Churches
Doc PC(USA): Advisory Opinions: Note 02 Dissent and Defiance
Doc PC(USA): Advisory Opinions: Note 03 Administrative Commission
PDF PC(USA): Advisory Opinions: Note 11 Church Property
Doc PC(USA): Advisory Opinions: Note 17 Schism
Doc PC(USA): Advisory Opinions: Note 19 Implementing the Trust Clause for the Unity of the Church
Web Presbyterian Outlook Statement about resources prepared by the Constitutional Services Department and the Office of Legal Services at the General Assembly level of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Web Stated Clerk, GAC chief urge churches not to defect from PC(USA) We are better together in Christ's Unity
TypeNameDescription

PC(USA) News Service

Presbyterian Google News

IRD Presbyterian News

The Christian Post

Denominations

Denomination NameParentLocationSizeYear
United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. - UPCUSA(N) PUSA & UPCNA New York City8,909/2,342,4411958-1983
Presbyterian Church in United States (Confederate) - PCUS(S) Presbyterian Church in United States Atlanta, Ga.4,250/814,9311861-1983
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) PC(U.S.A) UPCUSA(N) & PCUS(S) Louisville, Kentucky11,596/3,122,213June 10, 1983
Evangelical Presbyterian Church EPC UPCUSA(N) & PCUS(S) Livonia, MI67/19,000 (1982)1980/1981
Presbyterian Church of America PCA PCUS(S) Lawrenceville, GA260/41,232May 18, 1973
Orthodox Presbyterian Church Presbyterian U.S.A. Willow Grove, PA 300/20,417 1936
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church Associate Presbytery/Reformed Presbytery Greenville, SC 250/40,392 1782

Links

LINKS

TypeNameDescription
News Crosswalk The Intersection of Faith and Life
News Church Report National business news magazine
NewsPC(USA) NewsPresbyterian Church (U.S.A.) News Service
NewsSave Hollywood PresLinks to news about PC(USA) Troubles
NewsThe Layman OnlineTHE News Source about PC(USA)
NewsLayman - propertyThe Layman - Property Issues Archive
Blog Reformed Pastor EPC Pastor - Church Planter
BlogFull Court PresbyPastor Lance's Blog to his Congregation about PUP etc.
BlogClassical PresbyterianBlogging for the Reformed Resistance in the PC(USA)
BlogAnderson SpeakCommentary on Faith, Christianity, and the PCUSA by Noel K. Anderson
BlogBayou Christian Bill Crawford, Pastor First Presbyterian Church of Thiboduax
Blogblog 137Pastor Dave Moody, Trinity United Presbyterian Church, Sparta, IL.
BlogTruth in Love NetworkA group of Presbyterian elders who are concerned with the direction of the PC(USA).
BlogMark D. RobertsProfessor & Senior Pastor of Irvine Presbyterian Church, CA
BlogInstitute on Religion and Democracy25 years of working to reform the social and political witness of American churches
Blog The Berkley Blog James D. Berkley, Director of Presbyterian Action
BlogTom's ThoughtsTom Gray, Co-Pastor, Kirk of the Hills, Tulsa, OK
WebStand to ReasonChristian Ambassadors for defense for classical Christianity
WebPresbyterian ForumWorking for reformation through overt political action
WebWiki:PresbyterianWikipedia's Presbyterian Overview
WebKirk Of The Hills, Tulsa, OKChurch in Tulsa, OK - Fighting for its Property.
WebKirk's Legal Docs (pdfs)Kirk Of The Hills, Tulsa, OK
WebKirk Docs (text)Kirk Of The Hills docs, Converted to text
PDFLegal Strategy #1PC(USA)'s Legal Strategy for churches wanting to leave
PDFPresbyteries Process #2PC(USA)'s Process for churches wanting to leave
DocSecret Document #3News about a third secret document
PicPresby Chart 1Chart showing the history of breakups and mergers (standard)
WebPresby Chart 2Presbyterian Church History-Lesson 13-An Overview of Contemporary American Presbyterianism
WebPresby Chart 3 (text)History of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
Web Presby Chart 4 Denomination Family Trees (Interactive)
WebPresby Chart 5 ARPC Denomination Family Tree
WebMaps of ReligionsList of Many Maps of 2000 Census Data on Religion
PicMap: CountyMap of Denominations by County
Pic Map: Presbyterian Map of Presbyterian's as percentage of Population
Web ARDA Association of Religion Data Archives
PPTReport on PUPNew Wineskin's Report on PUP
PDFReport on PUPNew Wineskin's Report on PUP
PDFBook of OrderOfficial PDF Copy of Book of Order for PC(USA)
PDFBook of ConfessionsOfficial PDF Copy of Book of Confessions for PC(USA)
WebAdvisory OpinionsPC(USA) Stated Clerk Advisory Opinions (not binding, nor authoritative)
WebPC(USA) Constitutional MusingsOffice of Constitutional Services - Unofficial Thoughts
WebPC(USA) Amicus Curiae BriefsStated Clerk & AC on Litigation - Friend of the Court Briefs
WebGAPJC PC(USA)PC(USA) General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission Decisions
WebPension Board PC(USA)PC(USA) Board of Pensions
WebFoundation PC(USA)Presbyterian Foundation, New Covenant Trust and New Covenant Mutual Funds
WebPC(USA) BOO AnnotatedPC(USA) Book of Order - Annotated
WebPresbyterian CoalitionWorking for a Revitalized Church
WebConfessing Church Movement1,314/434,697
WebNew WineskinsNew Wineskins Association of Churches(2001)
TypeNameDescription

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