Posted on 12/07/2012 9:10:09 AM PST by Alex Murphy
Members of Pittsburgh Presbytery expressed grief and frustration with three churches that recently voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) without going through the constitutional process for doing so, while the church's national moderator, who coincidentally was at their regular meeting Thursday, said he had offered to meet with leaders of those churches and two others that are pursuing the formal process for leaving.
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Recently, Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church, Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth Township and the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown voted to secede without going through nine to 18 months of discussions with presbytery officials or negotiations over property. They joined the more theologically conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
At least 200 other churches have similarly left the 1.9 million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) since 2007. The most prominent issue was acceptance of local option on gay ordination, but those departing say that changing sexual standards reflect a broader disregard for the biblical authority. Defenders of the changes compare them to earlier reinterpretations of scripture involving women's ordination, divorce and slavery.
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Although Presbyterians have a history of splitting, they also have a history of reunifying, he said. "Perhaps we can have a sustained conversation ... so that perhaps reunion can happen 50 to 100 years down the road. The God who can change water to wine and move mountains, I believe, can change hearts."
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Rev. Sorge said he didn't believe that most members of the departing congregations understood that they were voting to violate the church constitution. He is sending letters to explain why the presbytery still maintains jurisdiction and will be sending a commission to work toward an acceptable departure under church law.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
At least 200 other churches have similarly left the 1.9 million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) since 2007. The most prominent issue was acceptance of local option on gay ordination, but those departing say that changing sexual standards reflect a broader disregard for the biblical authority. Defenders of the changes compare them to earlier reinterpretations of scripture involving women's ordination, divorce and slavery....
....Although Presbyterians have a history of splitting, they also have a history of reunifying, he said. "Perhaps we can have a sustained conversation ... so that perhaps reunion can happen 50 to 100 years down the road. The God who can change water to wine and move mountains, I believe, can change hearts."
Glad to see more churches are leaving.
It is well past the time that God’s children flee from the wolves in sheep’s clothing that are using the pulpit to preach socialism, acceptance of moral deviancy, and human secularism.
He just did. The PCUSA is merely another fruitless branch of the vine, withering and dying from blight.
Inviting the gay marriage and ordination termites to your national conference (even if they were narrowly defeated last time) does have its consequences.
When in doubt.....go with the Bible.
Rev. Sorge said he didn't believe that most members of the departing congregations understood that they were voting to violate the church constitution.
Without noting that the PCUSA is straining, nay, breaking, the foundational constitutional documents (which is to say, the scriptures).
so that perhaps reunion can happen 50 to 100 years down the road. The God who can change water to wine and move mountains, I believe, can change hearts."
One can hope for repentance on the part of the PCUSA denominational leadership, I suppose.
As a family, we left when they gave 10000 dollars to that great American Hero Angela Davis’ defense fund.
Isn’t it interesting that these church heirarchy types are so concerned that the churches that left are NOT abiding by the “constitution”? If Biblical teaching and authority aren’t final, constitutions sure aren’t either.
I’m not sure why they would need to discuss this for 18 months and I take it the congregation felt the same way. The PCUSA might want to keep the buildings but in the end all they’ll have are a bunch of empty buildings on which the mortgages are probably underwater and the cost of maintaining them. It sounds like the PCUSA is realizing that as well. Hopefully, the PCUSA will return to the fold.
Rev. Sorge said he didn’t believe that most members of the departing congregations understood that they were voting to violate the church constitution.
Well since the Word of God trumps any paper the Church wrote I guess it is a mote point...........
The Church chooses to not follow the Word of God, then the people will choose to not follow the Church.......
I’m not sure why they would need to discuss this for 18 months and I take it the congregation felt the same way. The PCUSA might want to keep the buildings but in the end all they’ll have are a bunch of empty buildings on which the mortgages are probably underwater and the cost of maintaining them.
Could rent them out to the local Islamic Center.
It sounds like the PCUSA is realizing that as well. Hopefully, the PCUSA will return to the fold.
Every time a chunk leaves, what's left is more solidly liberal. To reverse that would be a miracle of God.
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