Churches Joining EPC Presbytery of the Mid Atlantic

Story from Website: Mid-Atlatic EPC Presbytery

Churches joining EPC from PCUSA

• Asbury Presbyterian (Westfield, NC)
• Darlington Presbyterian (Darlington, SC)
• McBee Presbyterian (McBee, SC
• Westminster Presbyterian (Florence, SC)
• Norton Presbyterian (Norton, VA)

As spring opens, more PCUSA dismissals bloom

From a Layman Story: As spring opens, more PCUSA dismissals bloom

• McBee (S.C.)
  • Jan 2012 - unanimous Congregation Vote - EPC
  • Presbytery of New Harmony dismissed on Feb. 29
• Oakville (Shedd, Ore.)
  • Nov 2011 congregation unanimously
  • Final March 4
  • Presbytery of Cascades agreed unanimously, March 10

Does anyone know which churches have RETURNED to PCUSA in the last 20 years?

Reuters Story: Presbyterian synod approves parish split with property The Rev. Gradye Parsons, the highest-ranking official in the church general assembly, said some congregations that have left the fold during the past 20 years have rejoined.

Did a whole church return? or just a small portion (so called "true church")?

ED: I found a new link to the same Reuters Story. for now.

Synod of Pacfic OKs Presbytery of San Francisco Dismissal of (CPCD) of Danville, CA

Layman Story: Synod court affirms presbytery’s right to dismiss congregation from PCUSA

• Synod of the Pacific
• Presbytery of San Francisco
• Community Presbyterian Church (CPCD) of Danville, CA

I redid the statistics to base CPI adjustment to 2000 Dollars instead of 2010. (Click on pics to enlarge)

Sacramento Presbytery drives Fremont church to lawyers

Layman Story: Sacramento Presbytery drives Fremont church to lawyers

Churches Departing/Departed Presbytery of Sacramento.

• Fremont - EPC(1,200 members)
• Fair Oaks - EPC (2,286 members)
• Roseville - Centerpoint - EPC (1,143 members)
• Sierra - EPC (438 members)
• Gridley (116 members)
• Pioneer (60 members)
• First, Redding(190 members)
• Word on the street is that more are on the way

Pennsylvania church joins eight others seeking dismissal from Shenango

Layman Story: Pennsylvania church joins eight others seeking dismissal from Shenango

• Covenant Presbyterian Church of Sharon, Pa.
• 469-member
• Congregational meeting, Sunday, March 25.
• Session recommends Evangelical Presbyterian Church
• there are 16 EPC congregations located near Covenant.
• "The PCUSA denomination has left us,” the session stated.
• 1980s when the church stopped sending per-capita payments $3,000 and $4,500 per year.
• 2001, the church joined “The Confessing Church Movement”
• Presbytery of Shenango
• In May of 2011, Shenango voted against Amendment 10A
• Nine churches in process of dismissal:
  1. East Main Presbyterian Church of Grove City 670 members, April 29.
  2. Covenant Presbyterian Church of Sharon, Pa., March 25.
  3. ?
  4. ?
  5. ?
  6. ?
  7. ?
  8. ?
  9. ?

1st Presbterian of Edmond Ok session recomends dismissal from PCUSA

News Ok Story: (Newspaper: The Oklahoman) Edmond Presbyterian church may part from the Presbyterian Church USA denomination

• Indian Nations Presbytery
• First Presbyterian Church of Edmond
• Members 2010: 1,765 (Top 3 in Presbytery)
• Worship: 2010: 737
• Contributions: 2010: $2,342,624

Presbyterian schism isn't just about ordination of gay clergy

Colorado Springs Gazette Story: GUEST COLUMN: Presbyterian schism isn't just about ordination of gay clergy

Timberridge seeks high court (SCOTUS) review

Layman Story: Timberridge seeks high court review

• Timberridge Evangelical Presbyterian Church
• Greater Atlanta Presbytery
• Submitted on March 6
• Georgia Supreme Court voted 4-3 for deference.

Statistics charts - Click for better image

Adjusted data - adjusted by CPI to all be in 2010 Dollars

2 Colorado Churches vote to split from PCUSA, 6 more evaluating

Pueblo Chieftain Story: A faith divided Rift over gay ordination threatens local churches

• Westminster Presbyterian Church of Pueblo, CO
• Board of elders (session) voted 5-1 to pursue a split with the national church
• First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs conducted a straw-poll vote Sunday
• FPC CS to move to ECO
• Pueblo Presbytery
• Payment of $20 per member annually to the presbytery for a period of three to five years.
• FPC Colorado Springs: $80,000 a year
• Eight(8) churches contemplating a split - $400,000 and $500,000
• Presbytery might be forced to join either the Denver or Boulder/Fort Collins: Plains and Peaks Presbytery

Chapel Hill of Gig Harbor, Wash accepts Dismissal

Layman Story: Washington church agrees to presbytery terms in latest dismissal ‘A sense of inevitability’

• On March 1 voted unanimously to accept a dismissal agreement
• Presbytery of Olympia
• 1,600-members
• Church keeps its property
• $283,908 in four annual payments of $70,977
• Expects to join Evangelical Presbyterian Church in June
• Presbytery voted down 10A by a vote of 39-78
• Presbytery to vote at April meeting

Oregon Supreme Court: Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River v. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Lewis & Clark Law School Podcast: Oregon Supreme Court: Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River v. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and Questions from the Audience Following Arguments The Oregon Supreme Court held a session at Lewis & Clark Law School to hear two cases. This case is Hope Presbyterian Church of Rogue River v. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). On review, the issues are:

1. Whether Oregon follows the majority of states, which apply the “neutral principles” approach to church property disputes, or instead follows the minority of states, which apply the “hierarchical deference” approach to church property disputes.
2. Whether the Court of Appeals correctly held that, based on the appropriate legal approach, a trust was created over all of plaintiff’s real and personal property, in a legally cognizable form.
3. Whether the Court of Appeals erred in disregarding the distinction between the corporate owner of a church’s real and personal property, and a church congregation.
4. Whether ORS 130.505(1) permits a corporation-settlor of an alleged trust to revoke that trust, when the terms of the trust do not expressly provide that it is irrevocable.
5. Whether the effect of the decision of the Court of Appeals is to create a special class of religious trust, in contravention of Article I, Sections 2 and 3, of the Oregon Constitution..

More Colorado Presbyterian churches consider split

Gazette Story: More area Presbyterian churches consider split from organization

Eight churches in the region have expressed an interest in splitting from Presbyterian Church (USA), said Ronald Anderson, executive presbyter for the region that is based in Pueblo and spans much of southern Colorado. Those eight churches account for almost a fourth of the total churches in the Presbytery of Pueblo and make up more than half of the region’s total members.

Central Florida Presbytery says not so fast to First Presbyterian of Orlando

Central Florida Presbytery says not so fast to First Presbyterian

• Central Florida Presbytery as postponed its decision until June.
• First Presbyterian Church of Orlando
• Jan 29 Vote: 1,759 to 185
• unresolved issues:
  • 61 Members want to form their own church
  • on the division of personal property, such as hymnals
  • continue to use church facilities and resources
  • Senior Pastor David Swanson said his church has offered the members who want to remain with the PC(USA) space in the downtown campus, but the offer was declined.

Colorado Springs church votes to split PCUSA

Colorado Springs Gazette Story: Springs congregation votes to divorce Presbyterian sect

• Founded in 1872
• 4,000 members
• First Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs
• 88% Voted to move to ECO
• Pueblo Presbytery

Texas presbytery expels pastors from Hispanic churches

Layman Story: Texas presbytery expels pastors from Hispanic churches

• Mission Presbytery immediately vacate church premises.
• all three congregations had voted to be dismissed to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)
• Mission Presbytery
• El Principe de Paz Church in Mercedes (67)
• Iglesia Presbyteriana Getsemani in San Benito (123)
• Iglesia Presbyteriana San Pablo in Brownsville (30)

Colorado Springs 1st PCUSA considers split

First Pres considers split from national organization

• One of the first in Colorado Springs, was founded in 1872.
• about 4,000 members it is one of the largest in the country
• It may seek to join the conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO).
• a non-technical vote at 3 p.m. Sunday in the downtown sanctuary
• A team from Pueblo Presbytery will be at the meeting.
• The session voted in January to recommend that the congregation request dismissal from PCUSA.