Victoria PC seeks dismissal from the Presbytery of the James

Layman Story: Virginia church seeks dismissal from the Presbytery of the James

Summary:

• Victoria PC (VA) - 29 members, no "minister"
• Property: $350,000
• One stop light town - no lawyer
• Administrative Commission on Agenda for Sept 4 (Thur 4pm)
• James offered to appoint an interim pastor for two year evaluation.
• A retired Baptist minister has been doing the preaching for the last couple of months
• Presbytery of the James
• Called Meeting Packet(PDF)
• 113 churches
• 10 African-American congregations
• 1 Korean congregation
• 1 Arabic-speaking fellowship
• 28,000 members
• 240 ministers
• 30 educators
• Budget 2007: 1,716,327
• Synod of the Mid-Atlantic

EPC Londonderry NH now Orchard Christian

Layman Story: Londonderry group changes its name to Orchard Christian They lost the building to the minority. New Web site

Kirk Hearing Rescheduled Sept 9 (Tue)

The hearing has been reset for 9/9/08 at 1:30 PM (according to the Official Court Website).

Conference Call with all Parties agreed to the new date.

I was notified around 8:30 *PM* Wed night that is was "canceled" due to "Administrative Conflict", by subscribing to the Kirk email list, even though I don't live there and am not a member...

Layman Article: New hearing date in Kirk property dispute is Sept. 9

BTW I am planning to attend this trial and will blog results as soon after the trial that I can. The Tulsa library has free Wi-fi "next door" to the courthouse.

Third lawsuit in Peters Creek PC saga.

Pittsburgh Post Gazette Story: Minority sues to regain Peters Presbyterian church

Timeline:

1. Peters church mulls leaving presbytery - Gets injunction to bar seizure
• Court says Presbyterians who left church can sue
• Pennsylvania church gets temporary injunction against administrative commission while it weighs leaving PCUSA
• Peters church votes to leave presbytery
2. Presbytery sues Pastor and Treasurer
   "Presbytery says it, not court, should decide property dispute"
3. Minority try to join suit 2 - denied
4. Minority sues the majority:
• to remove the officers of the Peters Creek EPC
• return all property to control of the PCUSA
• the vote to secede violated the laws of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
• violates a Pennsylvania law that says church property must be governed according to church law.

Editorial

• The US Supreme Court ruling probably invalidates the PA law.
• The PCUSA can not make a "law" only rules.
• The Peters EPC church (and its members) exists separately from PCUSA and can not be governed by PCSUA.
• The first decision is how much the court is to be involved (hierarchical vs neutral)
• The second decision then is who owns the property.

Does the minority really think the majority will come home withe their tails between their legs if the court rules against them? Does the minority expect them to rejoin PCUSA?

Links:

Peters Creek PC

Washington Presbytery

FPC Opelika, Ala Dismissed Sheppards and Lapsley

Layman Online Story: Alabama church released for $105,000 contribution

• Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley voted on August 21, 2008
• First Presbyterian Church of Opelika, Ala., 78-7 in August 2007
• Negotiations with the presbytery began in February 2008.
• Rev. Scott Bowen:

  "We give the presbytery credit, They were gracious all the way. They were honest with us and very respectful of us."

• The congregation had not paid per capita requests in more than 20 years.
• The church paid the $105,00 on Aug 21
• Both parties signed a mutual release agreement to eliminate the possibility of claims by one against the other.
• Near Auburn University
• Presbytery Packet (p27-28)