Posted on 05/28/2013 11:02:30 AM PDT by Cronos
One of the largest Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations in the United States is presently weighing the possibility of leaving the denomination due to theological differences.
First Presbyterian Church of Houston, founded in the early nineteenth century and with an estimated 3,600 members, voted earlier this year to enter a discernment process over the possibility of seeking dismissal.
James T. Birchfield, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church, told The Christian Post that the congregation wants to consider where they stand in relation to the views of PC(USA).
"Our congregation is attempting to discern the best place – the best denominational relationship – that will allow us to fulfill our mission statement, which is to 'carry the gospel to Houston and the world'," said Birchfield.
"The issues that prompted our season of discernment include a sense that the PC (USA) may be drifting theologically – especially around issues having to do with the authority of Scripture and the nature and work of Jesus Christ – and that it has drifted away from its historical mission of evangelism and church planting."
Birchfield also told CP that First Presbyterian Church was only recently beginning the process of discernment and that it would not be a quick decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Ping for later
Most decisions in life are pretty easy. This is one of them.
The decision may be easy. Executing the decision won't be.
The PC/USA has a by-law clause that pretty much requires forfeiture of all property for congregations that leave the denomination. Legal challenges have been successfully conducted, but not always. This might be a very interesting case on multiple levels. It could lead to the bursting of the dam.
Was Dr. D. James Kennedy a member of this Presby church group? For some reason I would think not.
Hah! No kidding. It was probably an easy decision 20+ years ago.
Join the PCA, or Orthodox Presbyterian, or better yet - the Free Presbyterian, churches if you want to remain in a Presbyterian denomination, but by all means - depart from that apostate edifice called the PC-USA.
get out get out get out
affiliate with a church that remains Christian, or else
go free
but
get out get out get out
“Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1 Cor. 15:33
Your instinct is correct. Dr. Kennedy was PCA not PCUSA.
Kennedy, who died in 2007, was a minister in the Presbyterian Church in America aka PCA, not the PC(USA). His church, Coral Ridge Presbyterian, still belongs to that denomination.
PCA is Presbyterian Churches of America?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_America
Yes, although I believe it is the singular "Church" rather than "Churches".
My thread from last month. The issue is still very much unresolved.
My wife and I went through the same thing while in the Episcopal Church.
They voted to ordain an openly homosexual bishop that left his wife and children for his lover.
Vicki Gene Robinson. We were floored that the church could sink to this level. Left and never looked back.
Come join us Roman Catholics. We can use all the good conservatives we can get!
I wish them well—The Episcopal Church spit in my eye decades ago.
Perhaps they'll be lucky enough to avoid that on top of all the other pain involved in leaving the denomination.
Good for them. I hope the Lord grants them wisdom and discernment.
That would be helpful - thanks for adding that info. The national body itself has not been nearly as gracious to some others, as I learned about a month ago.
Seems like they should have made this decision years ago. What they should be asking themselves is why didn’t they.
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