Olivet Evangelical PC loses Appeal and Property.

Layman Online: Indiana court decision overturned!

• Ohio Valley Presbytery
• Olivet Evangelical PC
• Synod of Lincoln Trails
• Declaring that Olivet’s participation in the denomination equates to compliance with the so-called trust clause – specifically its remaining in the PCUSA at reunion and agreeing to participate in Ohio Valley Presbytery’s dismissal process – the appeals court favoured the presbytery based on its interpretation of the same neutral principles of law that often favour's congregations.

Greater Atlanta Presbytery seeks appeal of Timberridge ruling.

The Layman Online: Greater Atlanta Presbytery seeks appeal of Timberridge ruling.

• Timberridge Presbyterian Church
• Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus

Editor: Wow! Wow! Wow! The smiles on the faces of the singers make all the difference in the world!. The use of multiple professional photographers, and excellent editing make this a work of art! Viewed: 16,591,04 as of 12/10/2010

Nov 13, 2010 - Noon, Niagara Falls, Ontario

You Tube Video

One minute, Stephanie Tritchew was just a face in the busy Seaway Mall crowd, sipping coffee at a cafeteria table and chatting on her cellphone. Then next, the St. Catharines native was standing and belting out "hallelujahs" from the famed chorus in Handel's Messiah in front of a stunned food court congregation.

"The first reaction was jaw-dropping surprise and people laughing," said the startling soprano, who broke into song around noon last Saturday at the Welland mall. "Then just about everyone whipped out their phone cameras at once." Tritchew wasn't a one-woman surprise show. Within minutes, more than 80 Chorus Niagara singers previously blended into the weekend mall multitude had joined the chorus. The seemingly spontaneous event actually took weeks to plan, said Jennifer Blakeley of Niagara Falls-based Alphabet Photography, who organized the event.

The cafeteria chorus was part Alphabet advertisement, part performance art designed to put people in the Christmas spirit, Blakeley said. "I was sitting right in the middle of it all, and some people's faces were just classic," she said, laughing. "And I think it was quite touching — some people were actually in tears."

Blakeley said the event was modeled on "flash mobs," brief events often planned through social media in order to mobilize large groups of people quickly.

• Chorus Niagara website
• Facepage
• /A\ News Video Interview with Stephanie Tritchew.
• St Catharine Standard Story
• Niagara This Week: Shock and joy says soloist
• Niagara This Week: No flash (mob) in the pan.
• The TribuneChorus Niagara 'flash mobs' Seaway Mall
• St. Louis Globe Democrate: Flash mob video gets 3.1 million views
• The London Free Press: You brought joy to our lives’ FLASHMOB: Shoppers surprised as others burst into song in mall food court
• T Dot Society-What's Up: (several stories down page) Handel’s Messiah flash mob a Youtube smash
• The London Free Press: BOB RIPLEY Song such an intrinsic part of life
• Niagara Falls Review The world's most famous food court.
• Google search show 3,270 results!

2 Binghamton NY Presbyterian churches to merge

Press Connects story

• First Presbyterian of Binghamton: 35-6
• West Presbyterian Church of Binghamton: 25-4
• -> The United Presbyterian Church of Binghamton
• Presbytery of Susquehanna Valley

Children's Prayer

Angels of God, from heaven so bright, 

Watch over my children, and guide them aright.

Fold your wings round em and guard them with love.

Sing to them softly of heaven above.

from 12/7 episode of "CSI: Miami"

Ga. appeals court favors Timberridge

Layman Story: Ga. appeals court favors Timberridge

• Timberridge Presbyterian Church
• Presbytery of Greater Atlanta

The Georgia Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s judgment that had awarded the disputed property to the Presbytery.

On a Side note, when looking for news on the Presbytery website, I found:

• dissolved a church in July: Midway
• will dissolve another church: Riverdale, soon.
• Dissolve a AC for Rehoboth, which upheld the Session and Pastor.

San Francisco Presbytery grants Danville dismissal

Layman Online Story: San Francisco Presbytery grants Danville dismissal request.

Fair Oaks reaches departure settlement with synod.

Layman Online Story: Fair Oaks reaches departure settlement with synod.

• Synod of the Pacific
• Fair Oaks PC pays:
• $1.1 million
• half PCUSA attorney fees ($100,000-$150,000)
• Sacramento Presbytery

Houston congregation appeals property case judgment

Layman Story: Houston congregation appeals property case judgment.

• Windwood PC Houston, TX
• Presbytery of New Covenant
• District Court of Harris County ruled against the congregation
• 1,600-members
• Court summary judgment says:
• TX is a hierarchical deference state
• PCUSA is a hierarchical denomination

Colo. County Files Petition to U.S. High Court Over Church Land Dispute

Christian Post Story: Colo. County Files Petition to U.S. High Court Over Church Land Dispute

• Boulder County did not approve Church expansion plans, four years ago
• Rocky Mountain Christian Church in Niwot, Colo.
• Expansion project for Alexander Dawson School was approved in 1995
• Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), under which religious institutions are protected from discriminatory land-use laws.

Sequim Presbyterian PCUSA and EPC

Sequim Gazette Story: Sequim Presbyterian Fellowship begins anew PCUSA: ~ 20 members

The second part of the story is Sequim Community Church (EPC) ~ 780 members

Jermain Memorial PC takes back its church, joins new Presbytery

Troy Record Story: Watervliet congregation takes back its church, joins new Presbytery

Time Union Story: A fight on high gets ever higher

• Jermain Memorial PC, Watervliet, NY (Troy)
• Albany Presbytery
• Joined Ecumenical Presbytery. Ed: Anyone know this one?
• Presbytery changed the locks and padlocked the building in May
• Some charge the Presbytery with coveting its $169,000-$500,009 endowment (Presbyter denies)
• The Jermain will stated that when the church is no longer used that the 1 1/3-acre property would be reverted back to the next Jermain heir
• New York City resident Ann Jermain Walling Billings is a possible heir.
• Billings granted the property back to the parish in a deed dated in March

Eastminster Presbytery sues its own lawyers for malpractice , and loses

Layman Story: Presbytery sues its own lawyers, and loses over Hudson Presbyterian Church who was granted its own property.

IRS Complaint Filed Against Edmond Okla. Church Over Pulpit Politics

Christian Post: IRS Complaint Filed Against Okla. Church Over Pulpit Politics

Layman Files brief in Episcopal Property Fight in Georgia

Virtue Online Story: Two Amicus Briefs Filed to Protect Georgia Property from being seized by National Church

These briefs are posted at the church website

• Presbyterian Lay Committee brief
• American Anglican Council brief

Oakfield 1st (now OCBC) buys back original building at autcion.

Daily News Online: Oakfield congregation's long 'wandering' is over

• Oakfield Community Bible Church formerly Oakfield First Presbyterian
• Left PCUSA in 2008 from Genesee Valley Presbytery
• 2009 a judge ruled in the Presbytery’s favor
• OCBC couldn’t agree on a price with the Presbytery
• OCBC ended up buying the two parcels for $50,000 at a March auction.

Pastors to Challenge IRS by Talking Politics from Pulpit

Christian Post Story

Christian Post Editorial: Legislated Laryngitis

• Third annual Pulpit Freedom Sunday
• Organized by the Christian legal group Alliance Defense Fund
• Will use the Bible’s teachings to preach on the the positions of electoral candidates or current government officials in defiance of an IRS rule proposed by then-Sen. Lyndon Johnson and passed by Congress in 1954.

UPDATED: MO Judge has dismissed, with prejudice, Heartland Presbytery’s claims to the property of Gashland PC.

The Layman Online: Judge dismisses Gashland property case

A Clay County (Mo.) circuit court judge has dismissed, with prejudice, Heartland Presbytery’s claims to the property of Gashland Presbyterian Church, which left the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2008 to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

The court ruled that Missouri property cases must be judged on the neutral principles of law, rather than the hierarchical-based argument that church property is held in trust for the denomination.

NOTE: The next standard meeting of the Presbytery is November 16, 2010.

NOTE: On Sept 18 docket, Mound City Presbyterian Church is requesting an AC, as they feel they no longer may be able to maintain their facility.

Administrative Commission Report For Churches Seeking Dismissal From The PC(USA) (summarized from Sept 18 Docket)

Gashland: Aug 25: The judge would not grant the first request by Gashland to dismiss.

Colonial:

• Aug 13: The AC instructs Heartland's Stated Clerk to contact EPC to inquire as to their communication with Colonial.
• Aug 18: Session secures TRO against the AC. These are later contested and dismissed. Additionally, the Session filed a lawsuit against Heartland.
• Aug 19: The AC is holds a hearing to take over the Session. The Session is absent.
• Aug 22: A congregational meeting and declares their departure to EPC

Congregation looks for ways to mend rift, Ewing Presbyterian Church

NJ.com Story: Congregation looks for ways to mend rift, Ewing Presbyterian Church

• 170+ members meet with the Presbytery panel
• demolition plans that pitted church members against each other in angry camps
• Ewing Administrative Commission’S report overturning the raze decision
• 143-year-old sanctuary.
• vacant since being condemned as unsafe since the spring of 2007.
• the commission has given them three options for the sanctuary
• renovate it for use as a house of worship
• sell or donate it to another organization
• lease it to another organization for restoration.

Colonial PC, (Kansas City) votes to leave PCUSA 927-27

Layman Story: Colonial leaving PCUSA

• Colonial Presbyterian Church near Kansas City
• 1,700-member
• 2-campus
• Congregation voted 927-27 Sunday to leave
• voted 914-29 to join the EPC
• the second largest congregation in Heartland Presbytery.
• 2 Sessions File complaint:
• Southminster PC, Prairie Village, KS 371 members
• First PC, Lee’s Summit, MO 546 members
• G-7.0304 and G.11-0103i
• General Assembly PJC case Sundquist et al. v. Heartland Presbytery.
• Aug. 19, Heartland’s PJC granted a stay of enforcement against Colonial
• district court in Johnson County, Kansas granted a restraining order request by Colonial

Note: That the Colonial web sites has:

• FAQs about the EPC
• Cover Letter to Discernment Summary
• Discernment Summary
• May 23rd Survey Results Document
• August 7 Cover Letter from Session
• August 8 Notice of Special Joint Meeting
• Articles Document
• Bylaws Document
• Info for the Congregation Regarding August 22

HEARTLAND PRESBYTERY (on Colonial Web)

• April 1 Letter to Colonial Members
• Heartland Overtures to the General Assembly
• May 27th Letter to Colonial Members
• 1) Enclosure: "Church's One Foundation"
• 2) Enclosure: Notice Regarding Property
• And MANY more

Jermain Memorial PC (Watervliet, N.Y) CLOSED by Presbytery, awaiting appeal

The Layman Story Church closure hurts local needy; members eye settlement, appeal

Georgia Episcopal Church Appeals Property Ruling to State Supreme Court.

Virtue Online Story: Christ Church, The Mother Church of Georgia in Savannah, has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to review a recent ruling of the Court of Appeals upholding Judge Michael Karpf's October, 2009 decision that Christ Church holds its property in trust for the Diocese of Georgia and The Episcopal Church.

NEWS FLASH: (Layman) No more Mr. Nice Guy in Heartland

Layman Story: No more Mr. Nice Guy in Heartland: Heartland Presbytery seems to have lost faith in its own process and replaced the administrative review committee it assigned to work through a period of discernment with Colonial Presbytery Church, as it decides whether to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Two Presbyterian churches to merge

Indiana Gazette: Story about 2 churches merging in PA.

• NuMine Presbyterian Church (95 yrs)
• Rural Valley Presbyterian (175 yrs)
• -> NuValley Presbyterian Church (@ Rural building)

Rumor: Colonial Pres wants to leave Heartland

From the blog: Classical Presbyterian: Colonial Pres (probably 4k plus members) has asked Heartland to negotiate their dismissal. The response. Essentially, you're not getting off that easy.

Comments are now Moderated

Due to comment spam, usually in a pictographic language. I have changed to moderated comments. This will cause comments to appear slowly, as I do work for a living. I am an embedded programmer. Please be patient. This is a case of 1% being bad makes life "interesting" for the rest of use.

One of my favorite sayings is supposedly an ancient Chinese curse: "May you live in interesting times"

Jim

P.S. Just rejected one of those comments on this post! 7/14 08:00

Synod of Lincoln Trails vs Canaan PC of Glenview, IL

Layman Story: An administrative commission for the Synod of Lincoln Trails is exceeding its authority by acting as the synod, the presbytery and the local session in a bitter dispute over property and leadership at Canaan Presbyterian Church in Glenview, Ill., according to a remedial complaint filed with the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission.

Church firing of accountant - Upheld by Appeals court

Leagle Story: ERDMAN v. CHAPEL HILL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Jim,

Why did you lead this story with the headline "Church firing of accountant - Upheld by Appeals court"? I read through the court's opinion and the plaintiff and defendant briefs found on the Washington state web page, it appears the church and pastor have some poor judgement. It also appears the courts upheld some important claims of the plaintiff (Title VII).

It appears the church is trying very hard to make this go away - never imaged a church would try and call the accoutant a pastor to avoid a lawsuit. Sadly a better headline would have been "Church succeeds in part in hiding behind the 1st amendment" :)

Sincerely,
An advocate for the harassed

Fallbrook pays $1.4M; Roseville’s price: $810K

Layman Story: 2 Calif. churches, presbyteries reach settlements on property Fallbrook pays $1.4M; Roseville’s price: $810K

First Presbyterian Church of Orange (NJ) to disolve Sept 26.

Orange St. Mark’s Cemetery Stands Pat

Lancaster PC to pay $550,000 blood money to leave PCUSA

Buffalo News: Lancaster congregation will pay $550,000 after break from PCUSA

An administrative commission appointed by the presbytery determined the $550,000 amount by adding up legal fees, as well as unpaid “per capita” dues that Lancaster Presbyterian had owed to the presbytery over the past decade or so. It also factored in 10 percent of the overall value of the property.

(Ed.) Still sounds like blood money to me.

• Lancaster Presbyterian Church
• Presbytery of Western New York

Presbyterian Church gets second chance (Singelton, NSW, AU)

It is interesting to note that the USA is not the only country to struggle to keep churches open. Singleton, New South Wales, Australia

Singleton Argus: Presbyterian Church gets second chance

FPC Bakersfield Joins EPC

Just an update, as the church officially joins EPC. Story from Bakersfield.com: First Presbyterian Church realigns with new governing body

Southport PC (Indiana) dismissed to EPC by Whitewater Valley

Layman Story: Indianapolis church dismissed from PCUSA

• Whitewater Valley Presbytery: approved at June 2 meeting by a 200-6 vote
• Southport Presbyterian Church
• 1,200-member
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• voted in late 2009 to leave-95.3%: 786-37-2 (Absentees: 49-0-2)
• two-campus
• Settlement:
• lump sum of $330,582.10 to Presbytery by Dec. 31, 2010.
• $165,582.10 in per capita payments for 2009-2013
• $105,000 for basic PCUSA mission support from 2010 to 2012
• $60,000 in support for Hispanic ministries, Camp Pyoca and Westminster Ministries.
• Southport will pay for Presbytery counsel’s costs and fees
• Previous Stories on Whitewater:
• The Empire Strikes First!
• I Will Make It Legal! (Emperor Whitewater Valley)

From clergy shortage to clergy glut

Christian Century Story: From clergy shortage to clergy glut

• "We have a serious surplus of ministers and candidates seeking calls," said Marcia Myers, director of the vocation office for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which has four ministers for every opening.
• The main cause of the sudden turnaround: the bad economy.
• According to PCUSA data, the church has 532 vacancies for 2,271
• older clergy who saw their retirement funds evaporate are delaying retirement
• "Everyone talked about a clergy shortage, but there never really was one," said Chang. There has long been a surplus of ministers, she said. They're simply not serving where they're needed—in small churches.
• No mention of the amount of money wasted on legal fights

Sierra Presbyterian Church ordered to close its doors

Merced Sun Star Story: Sierra Presbyterian Church ordered to close its doors

• Stockton Presbytery: 25-14
• church plans to file an appeal
• Sierra Saving Grace Homeless Project in Jeopardy
• Presbytery part of unusual Sierra Mission Partnership- 3 presbyteries
• $30,550 noninterest loan from the Presbytery for the building of a parking lot
• the group paid $100 monthly and then, several years ago, raised the payment to $250 a month.
• 3603 M Street, Merced, CA

Church fund creates bitter feud

Regional officials, congregants battle over $2M 'legacy'

FPC of Aurora Officially Shifts To EPC

A News Release from The Religion Wire™: First Presbyterian Church of Aurora Officially Shifts Denominational Affiliation

Layman Online: story

• FPC Aurora, Ill
• Blackhawk Presbytery: (58-48)Press release on there front page
• 152 year-old church
• some 700 members
• dismissal payment of $140,000 and other long-term provisions
• pastor Jeff Moore and associate pastor Stephen Rhodes have been dismissed to EPC.
• Property Appraisal: 2.2-2.6 million - Estimated Sale Price 1 Million
• Membership voted on April 8, 2009. 317-17
• Letter to those not attending:
• Dismissal: 322
• Not Active: 36
• Remain/as FPC: 12
• Remain/Transfer: 2
• Abstain: 6

Desert Hills PC (Carefree, Ariz) intends to leave PCUSA

• Layman Online Story: Arizona congregation seeks dismissal from PCUSA
• Desert Hills Presbyterian Church
• Not the one in Yucca Valley, CA
• 500-members
• Founded in 1969
• Carefree, Ariz., just outside of Scottsdale
• past 18 months in discernment
• Reformed independent church
• Presbytery of Grand Canyon
• Presbytery remains open to church remaining

Majority group maintains control of Peters Township church

The Almanac: Majority group maintains control of Peters Township church

I can't decide if this is a second ruling or a older story.

San Joaquin dismisses Bakersfield with its property

The Layman Online: San Joaquin dismisses Bakersfield with its property.

Court denies Lancaster appeal request

Layman Online: Court denies Lancaster appeal request

FPC Edgewater, NJ to close on May 23.

North Jersey (Edgewater View newspaper): First Presbyterian Church of Edgewater, NJ on Undercliff Avenue forced to close its doors.

• "It's closing because the existing congregation could not bear the weight of the financial burden of the church," said Rev. Wanda Lundy, referring to church's budget.
• Lundy said people nationwide are flocking to non-denomination and Pentecostal churches.
• But on a local level, the church has also lost membership due to the lack of parking. (ed: That is why I attend an urban church as opposed to a downtown church.)
• The final service is tentatively scheduled for May 23.

Judge rules in favor of majority in Peters Creek UPC

Pittsburgh Post Gazette: Judge rules in favor of majority in Peters church schism lawsuit

The Layman Online: Peters Creek gets another legal victory

EPC’s Ridgebury asks for appeal

EPC’s Ridgebury asks for appeal

• The Church at Ridgebury (EPC)
• Hudson River Presbytery
• Blogging Religiously: Denomination wins appeal in ‘divorce’ case with dissident church

The Going Price Of An Historic Church Building In Upstate NY

GA Junkie Blog: Follow-up To The Oakfield Sale -- The Going Price Of An Historic Church Building In Upstate NY

I have the same problem locally, The city is trying to sell the old downtown hospital. No one is biding! Tearing it down is expensive due to asbestos. The corner lot is just inside the downtown area, which has been flooded twice in the last 20 years. Add to this, many in our town are hung-up with preserving downtown's image. Sonic wants to tear down an old car dealership and build a new sonic there. Eating places downtown are few, if you don't want expensive.

Anglican Curmudgeon: On the Proper Application of "Neutral Principles"

Anglican Curmudgeon: On the Proper Application of "Neutral Principles"

PCUSA Louisville to reduce staff by 30

• NewsOK Story (AP): Presbyterians offer severance to 30 in Louisville
• Original Story: Courier Journal Louisville KY

• 250 jobs in five separate cuts since 2002, 186 through layoffs.
• 346 denominational employees in Louisville
• 300 mission and other workers elsewhere.
• 14 laid off in March 2009

• Projected Income 2012: $76.2 million — down 19 percent from this year’s $93.8 million
• budgets for final approval by the church’s legislative General Assembly in July
• unpaid one-week employee furlough in 2009
• salary freeze for 2010. Prior to the recession
• projected revenue was $100 million per year

First PC in Beaver, Pa dismissed

Layman Online Story: Beaver-Butler’s largest church to leave PCUSA

Christian Post Story: Multi-Site Church Cleared to Leave PC(USA)

If the Indiana court ruling is approved by the US Supreme Court, this could be extortion legally as well as morally.

Beaver County Times: Beaver congregation splits from national Presbyterian Church (USA)

Oakfield (N.Y.) Community Bible Church wins auction of own property from Presbytery

• Layman Story: "Congregation wins back property at auction"
• Ga Junkie: An Interesting Tale Of Stewardship, Property, And The PC(USA) Trust Clause
• Daily News Online: 'A million prayers' answered at church auction

Community Bible Church was Oakfield Independent Presbyterian Church.

Genesee Valley Presbytery

Valued: $400,000 Bid: $50,000

Genesee Valley General Presbyter Linda Badger Becker described the property as a liability.

Oakfield Independent be auctioned off March 18 in Oakfield, N.Y.

Layman Story: Embattled church property on the auction block

• Oakfield Independent Presbyterian Church (OIPC)
• Presbytery of Genessee Valley

Indiana court rejects PCUSA property claim to Olivet EPC

Heldt’s ruling rejects virtually every argument that PCUSA lawyers have been making in various property disputes across the country.

• Layman Story: Indiana court rejects PCUSA property claim The Layman
• GA Junkie: Indiana Court Awards Property To Particular Church And Not PC(USA) Presbytery And Synod
• Letters to the Editor: Court agrees that Olivet is and should be God’s steward of property

• Presbytery of Ohio Valley: Olivet Info Page
• Synod of Lincoln Trails
• Olivet Presbyterian Church, Evansville, Ind. 

Article Summary:

• To affiliate or not to affiliate: That is the question
• No legally cognizable trust
• Inconsistencies in the Book of Order

Document Freedom Day 2010 - March 31st

Church Membership Rises in USA 1/2 percent

From The Christian Post Story: or NCC website

NOTICE: only about half of the denominations have reported.

Guess who has the largest lost?

2010	2009	Denomination	Membership	Change
-	-	Total	147,384,631	↑ 0.49 %
1	1	The Catholic Church	68,115,001	↑ 1.49 %
2	2	Southern Baptist Convention	16,228,438	↓ 0.24 %
3	3	The United Methodist Church	7,853,987	↓ 0.98 %
4	4	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints	5,974,041	↑ 1.71 %
5	5	The Church of God in Christ	5,499,875	?
6	6	National Baptist Convention, U.S.A., Inc	5,000,000	?
7	7	Evangelical Lutheran Church in America	4,633,887	↓ 1.62 %
8	8	National Baptist Convention of America, Inc.	3,500,000	?
9	10	Assemblies of God	2,899,702	↑ 1.27 %
10	9	Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)	2,844,952	↓ 3.28 %
11	11	African Methodist Episcopal Church	2,500,000	?
12	12	National Missionary Baptist Convention of America	2,500,000	?
13	13	Progressive National Baptist Convention	2,500,000	?
14	14	The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod (LCMS)	2,337,349	↓ 1.92 %
15	15	The Episcopal Church	2,057,292	↓ 2.81 %
16	16	Churches of Christ	1,639,495	?
17	17	Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America	1,500,000	?
18	18	Pentecostal Assemblies of the World	1,500,000	?
19	19	The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church	1,400,000	?
20	20	American Baptist Churches in the U.S.A.	1,331,127	↓ 2.00 %
21	22	Baptist Bible Fellowship International	1,200,000	?
22	23	Jehovah’s Witnesses	1,114,009	↑ 2.00 %
23	22	United Church of Christ	1,111,691	↓ 2.93 %
24	25	Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)	1,072,169	↑ 1.76 %
25	24	Christian Churches and Churches of Christ	1,071,616	?

? no membership updates reported

164 year old Bristol PC closes in Philadelphia

PhillyBurbs.com Story: The Bristol Presbyterian Church closed its doors Sunday after almost 164 years of being a part of the community.

Philadelphia Presbytery

UPDATE: Community Presbyterian Church Session votes to Leave PCUSA to EPC

The Layman Story: Large San Francisco congregation announces desire to leave PCUSA

• UPDATE: Christian Post: Calif. Megachurch Seeks Dismissal from PC(USA)
• 2,000-member Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) in Danville, Calif.
• Presbytery of San Francisco/li>
• Session approved the action at its Feb. 2 meeting
• Church Special webpage
• San Francisco dismissal policy

Presbyterians vote to sell Rock Hill church

From St. Louis Today Website.

Roseville and Fair Oaks vs Sacramento - Local Churches loses

Google found a new legal website for me:

Leagal: Popularizing the Law™
(Search millions of pages of law with a single query)

It contains the text of Roseville vs Presbytery of Sacramento Appeal

Also from Metropolitan News-Enterprise: C.A. Reverses Ruling Giving Local Churches Control of Property

Layman finally has the story.

If you search for Presbytery, it contains many more property cases.

A Little History

• Fair Oaks Website
• Roseville Website
• Dec 5, 2007: Fair Oaks PC and FPC Roseville, CA Dismissed by Presbytery.
• May 8, 2008: Final Ruling in FPC Roseville, CA v. Presbytery of Sacramento
• May 16, 2008: Synod of the Pacific FORCES Sacramento Presbytery to Appeal Property
• June 11, 2008: TWO More Churches Disaffiliate! UPDATED
• Sept 24, 2008: Back in the battle again for Roseville and Fair Oaks
• Charter Day EPC – Sunday, January 24, 2010

Presbytery appeals Carrollton decision

Layman Story: Presbytery appeals Carrollton decision

Land and Building Wars

Christianity Today Article: This is about Episcopal Church vs All Saints Church in Pawleys Island, South Carolina. It also talks about PCUSA on page 3.

Struthers OH church secedes from Presbytery

Again the story from Vinny.com:

• 97% in favor of disaffiliation
• Standing-room only
• Each side had 10 minutes to present views before the members.
• General Presbyter: said the church had between 180 and 185 members on its last report to the presbytery
• Presbytery first learned of intention to leave the denomination at a meeting Jan. 4
• The church has been without a pastor for 10 months
• On Jan. 5, the church obtained a temporary restraining order
• Struthers church, in 1983, “disavowed any trust interest.”

Presbylaw Commentary:

• The GP comments as reported are disappointing. They are either "political" mis-statements or unbelievable ignorance.
• Everyone know membership size reports are inaccurate, only worship attendance is a good indication of size.
• If the Presbytery knew nothing until Jan 4 meeting, Then the Presbytery is failing to communicate in-between its meetings or is failing to keep in touch with Struthers.

Update on Struthers PC withdrawl vote Sunday.

This updated story from Vindy.com has more details:

• in December Session voted Unanimously recommends withdrawal.
• on Tuesday, Judge issued a TRO barring the Eastminster Presbytery.
• Hearing in two weeks.
• PCUSA strategy paper used as evidence for TRO
• Representatives of the presbytery have been invited to observe Sunday’s vote
• Church wants to settle out of court.
• Church founded in 1804 and joined the Presbyterian Church USA in 1983.

Struthers, OH PC to vote Sunday to secede from the PCUSA

Vindy.com Story: Members of Struthers Presbyterian Church are expected to decide Sunday whether to secede from the Presbyterian Church USA and its Eastminster Presbytery.

Sunday’s congregational meeting follows last month’s unanimous recommendation from the church’s 12-member session that the local church no longer be affiliated with the national church and the presbytery “for theological reasons of conscience.”

Struthers PC - The Bridge (facebook)

173 members, $138,000 budget (2007)

Tiny New Orleans congregation defeats denominational superpowers

Layman Story: Tiny New Orleans congregation defeats denominational superpowers

In a sweeping Declaratory Judgment and Permanent Injunction on behalf of the 20-member Carrollton Presbyterian Church, the 19th Judicial District Court of Louisiana has ordered “the Presbytery of South Louisiana of the Presbyterian Church (USA), its officers, agents, employees and counsel, and any persons or entities in active concert or participation with the presbytery, or acting by or through the presbytery or on its behalf or in its stead” to leave Carrollton’s property alone.

• Synod of the Sun
• Presbytery of South Louisiana
• Carrollton Presbyterian Church