Laredo congregation leaving PCUSA to affiliate with EPC

Layman Online ^ | February 17, 2005 | John H. Adams

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Mission Presbytery in Texas has dismissed a Confessing Church congregation and its pastor to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, but the property issue is still up in the air.

The presbytery voted 152-76 in October against a motion to allow the congregation – First Presbyterian Church in Laredo – to leave with its property and assets. However, the presbytery decided to allow the congregation to continue using the property until after an appraisal is made of the land and building.

The presbytery's trustees were instructed to make a recommendation for the disposition of the property "in such a way as to not overly burden financially that congregation."

The Laredo congregation has about 40 members. Along with their pastor, Dale Youngs, they voted to renounce the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The transfer will occur after the Mission Presbytery's vote in March.

The congregation is one of six Confessing Churches that have left the PCUSA in the last three years. Five have chosen to become part of the EPC and one is in the PCA. The Confessing Church Movement still numbers 1,308 congregations – the largest independent alliance of congregations in the PCUSA.

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Small congregation on near the Mexican border leaves the mainline PCUSA for the moderate Evangelical Presbyterian Church.