Posted on 04/08/2015 8:42:40 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A Presbyterian Church (USA) regional body located in California has been accused of putting a Korean congregation's effort to leave the mainline denomination to a standstill.
Last year, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church of Rowland Heights voted overwhelmingly to seek dismissal from PCUSA over the denomination's growing acceptance of homosexuality.
Out of 817 votes casted in the March 2014 vote, 738 voted to leave, 74 voted to stay, and 5 votes were dismissed.
Despite that, the PCUSA Presbytery of San Gabriel has not apparently finalized the dismissal as of this month, according to the Korean-American Christian publication Christianity Daily.
Rachael Lee of Christianity Daily wrote that "over a year later, the church has yet to be completely dismissed from the PCUSA."
"Based on the San Gabriel Presbytery's [Gracious Dismissal Policy], if 75 percent or more of a church congregation votes to be dismissed from the presbytery to join another body, the presbytery would then vote regarding the congregation's dismissal in its next meeting," reported Lee.
"However, since the church's vote in March 2014, the presbytery has never voted specifically on the status of GSPC's dismissal."
The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States, PCUSA has garnered much controversy over its growing acceptance of homosexuality and gay marriage.
Decisions at their General Assembly meetings over the past few years have annually prompted scores of churches to leave the denomination.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Ping!
What is this the mafia?? You say “I quit,” change the sign and get on with it.
“You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.”
All about the money...PCUSA wants it...the congregation doesn’t want to part with it.
The leftist agenda requires force, if you let people leave, then its all for naught.
All about the money...PCUSA wants it...the congregation doesn’t want to part with it.
With 817 members voting, it looks like a large congregation for the PCUSA. If the members give the way Koreans have the reputation for giving to their churches, then the local Presbytery stands to lose a lot of money. I would even think that some of the tolerant and inclusive churches with tiny congregations will have to shut down if the Koreans are let loose.
Last week, there was an article stating that 34,000 Black churches were splitting away from PCUSA (interesting acronym) for the same reason.
Why doesn’t the church just send a certified letter saying, we followed the rules, we left and we are now no longer a part of your organization. No further checks will be forcoming. Have a great life. Signed, Good Shepherd Presby. Church.
good question
I think its because the denomination claims to own the property, or thats how it usually works
It’s sad that the people won’t let go of their building and assets. Just walk away and join a PCA, OPC, OR EPC church in the area.
The PCUSA church down the road from my house is almost empty on Sunday while my PCA church is packed. We’re drawing in people from all the liberal denominations (I came from the UMC last year) because some people choose the bible over the culture.
>>Why doesn’t the church just send a certified letter saying, we followed the rules, we left and we are now no longer a part of your organization. No further checks will be forcoming. Have a great life. Signed, Good Shepherd Presby. Church.
In the PCUSA, the Presbytery legally owns the assets. When the PCA was created, it specifically put it in the rules that the congregation owns the assets so if a time ever comes when the PCA is corrupted by secular culture,the churches can leave effortlessly.
never ever let the denomination own your local congregation like this
This problem with the PCUSA has been building for decades, but the Presbyteries have held off the Progressive assault until recently. Being Presbyterian means being in a denomination. It is what the word means.
I’m willing to take the risk of being in a denomination in exchange for a means of holding the pastor accountable to a fixed standard. Non-denom pastors can do or say anything as long as they don’t anger a majority of the congregation. They are free to “evolve” to keep influential constituencies in the congregation happy and a well trained pastor can proof text just about anything he wants.
I believe local churches should be independent, they should belong to the denomination they agree with, but this does not mean they should be owned by them.
>>I believe local churches should be independent, they should belong to the denomination they agree with, but this does not mean they should be owned by them.
I agree with that. That’s why I’m PCA.
Same thing is happening here in Duluth GA.
There is nothing stopping them all from just walking away... but that leaves he facility in the hands of the PCUSA and the probability they will send in a new pastor and start up a new church
Yes, they can leave, but they can’t take their property, because it is claimed by PCUSA.
The family values of the Koreans won’t stand for this evil....they can stall...but they will break away....
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