Bay PC and Western Reserve Amicable Settlement

Cleavland.com reports the Presbytery of the Western Reserve accepted an amicable settlement with Bay PC in Bay Village, OH. The Bay PC church website has an announcement as well as the Joint Agreement.

• Presbytery votes: 135-13-8, May 28, 2008
• Effective: June 1, 2008 (tentative)
• Church to pay $100,000 for 7 years.

Other info:

• Church Original: $550,000 10 years
• Presbytery Original: $3,000,000, second: $1,000,000
• Presbytery wanted compensation for the loss of giving and membership
• Membership 2,256 (2006) 2,072 (2007)
• Cong Vote: 1,196-113 Nov 18, 2007
• Presbytery: 52 congregations 14,300 members
• Original Layman Story: Presbytery's largest church votes to leave PCUSA for NW/EPC
• Reformed Pastor Blog: Pay Up Or Else
• Cleveland Plain-Dealer: Bay Presbyterian negotiating exodus from denomination

Session's concern with PC(USA)

• Christ's Lordship
• The authority of the Scriptures
• The integrity of church governance

Hopefully they will not have to deal with "The Empire Strikes Back", with the Synod of the Covenant stepping in to override.