Organize the web stories, info on the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) troubles: Property Ownership, Church Withdrawals, Ordination Standards, Hierarchical vs. Connectional.
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Thursday, August 1, 2013
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, July 1, 2013
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
Monday, June 3, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
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
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.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Peters Creek UPC (PA) Property Case Lands in Appeals Court (PCUSA->EPC)
Layman Online Story: Washington County church property dispute lands in appeals court
Original Story: Pittsburg Post Gazette Washington County church property dispute lands in appeals court
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
Friday, April 12, 2013
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)
- ECO - East Brook Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa.(98)
- EPC - Center Presbyterian Church, Grove City (164)
- ECO - East Main Presbyterian Church, Grove City (694)
- ECO - Neshannock Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa. (325)
- ECO - Princeton Memorial Presbyterian Church, New Castle, Pa. (38)
- 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
Friday, April 5, 2013
Huntersville,NC church leaves PCUSA for ECO
Layman Online Story: Huntersville church leaves PCUSA for ECO
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
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
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Sharon, GA Presbyterian Church leaves PCUSA
Layman Online Story: Sharon Presbyterian Church leaves PCUSA
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.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Monday, March 11, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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
Florence, S.C., church dismissed to join ECO
Layman Online Story: Florence, S.C., church dismissed to join ECO
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
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:
- website: http://www.churchinrestoration.org/
- Facebook page
- Pastors: Billy Craig and Jeff Lee ordained by EPC
- Meeting Place: Oak Knoll Middle School
- Mission Church w/EPC working toward a fully chartered 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.
- Allen Fisher, Teaching Elder, The Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg) - Moderator
- Edna Banes, Teaching Elder, Union Presbyterian Seminary
- Larry Diebold, Ruling Elder, The Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg)
- Alexander Evans, Teaching Elder, Second Presbyterian Church (Richmond)
- Don Osborne, Ruling Elder, Chester Presbyterian Church (Chester)
- 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
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
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.
- Lewes Presbyterian Church
- Lewes, Delaware
- Established in 1692
- Session presented to congregation in Oct 1012
- PCUSA->ECO
- 305 Members, 208 worship
- New Castle Presbytery 54 Churches
- $464,000 Contributions
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
First Presbyterian Church of Edmond UPDATED 2x
- Members of Indian Nations Presbytery, a regional affiliate of the Presbyterian Church (USA), voted Monday to dismiss First Presbyterian Church of Edmond from the denomination, but not without discussion about the monetary terms of the severance.
- News OK Story: Edmond congregation votes to dissolve denominational relationship
- Oklahoman Newspaper Story: First Presbyterian Church of Edmond set to take historic vote
- Okla. Church Votes to Leave PCUSA, Joins Evangelical Covenant Order
- Mon Jan 28, 2013 Indian Nations Votes: 63-4 to release FPC of Edmond to the Evangelical Covenant Order
- $510,000 Blood money to release
- Sun Jan 27, 2013 Congregation votes to leave 815-75
- seven years of task forces and reports to the congregation
FPC Houston May Consider Leaving Its Denomination
Major Presbyterian Church May Consider Leaving Its Denomination
The church will vote on whether to enter into the discernment procedure with the presbytery.
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
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
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."