Three Valley Presbyterian churches have finalized their divorce from the nation’s largest Presbyterian denomination, citing differences over the Bible’s supreme authority and the possible ordination of gays.
But unlike the split within the Valley’s Episcopal diocese, which turned into a bitter court fight, the three congregations are leaving on friendly terms. They have retained their church properties and have agreed to fulfill financial pledges for ministries run by the church they’re leaving.
“The relationships we share with these three congregations, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are more important than property,” said the Rev. Rick Irish, interim leader of the Presbytery of San Joaquin, which governs Valley congregations within Presbyterian Church (USA). “Therefore, we didn’t make property an issue.”
Hey, Bishop Chapman. In case you don’t recognize it, this is truly a charitable Christian response to a difficult situation. Why don’t you take a similar approach to resolving your property issues with St. George’s and St. Alban’s in Ottawa? You KNOW Jesus would approve. Come on. Give it a try.
Is it at all possible, after what has been witness in New westminster and Niagara that Bishop Chapman would for even one minute consider such a charitable option. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if a ‘new’ precedent could be set.
As for me, I don’t think I’ll hold my breath…..suffocation would come quickly.
Greed and uncharitableness (is that a word?) seem to be very strong verbs (?) in the ACoC dictionary.
When considering this report we must realize the form of government in the Presbyterian church is quite different and that could well be the reason the individual churches have been able to keep their properties and avoid legal proceedings. The negative side of this report is their continued interaction with those who reject the authority of Scripture. Such interaction should have some boundaries and have the goal of bringing the Presbyterian church back into the fold. We all have that old nature within us but that does not mean we can agree and accept the actions of that nature despite any “approval” on either a secular or religious basis.
Frank makes a valid point concerning church government. I’m currently a member of a Presbyterian Church of America (PCA) church – a denomination that split away from the southern mainline Presbyterian denomination in the US in the early 70s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_America
The PCA has experienced healthy growth and is quite evangelistic and missional. The church I attend has an average Sunday attendance of around 1400 and I have been very impressed with the focus on the gospel and evangelism. Adherence to Calvinism certainly isn’t dampening enthusiasm to reach the surrounding community with the gospel.
The Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA), on the other hand, has many parallels with TEC. Whereas the PCA is growing, the PCUSA is declining. I don’t think there is any talk in the PCA about “returning to the fold.”
Getting back to the property question, there is a whole section on property ownership in the PCUSA Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_(U.S.A.)
I think the churches mentioned in the original article have some excellent options without leaving Presbyterianism. From what I’ve read, they are joining the Evangelical Presbyterian Church – a denomination that formed a couple of years prior to the formation of the PCA as a split from the northern mainline Presbyterian denomination in the US. I believe the PCUSA now encompasses what used to be the southern and northern Presbyterian denominations.
And all the above is probably much more than anyone here wanted to know.
Frank#3 and Warren#4
Is Christian charity defined in terms of what one “can” do rather than what one “should” do? Is the Presbyterian Church (USA) only being charitable because it doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on? Perhaps. But true Christian charity is not predicated on who can do what to whom, but rather on how Jesus would have us treat one another. We are called to love one another as Christ loves us, and that includes everyone, even those who would do us harm. So I continue to pray for Bishop Chapman, that the Holy Spirit would turn his heart to offer the charity to his fellow Christians that he would likewise have them offer unto him. Impossible. I don’t think so. Don’t under estimate the power of prayer.
PS: Warren, is your jammy posting up this summer or do you have another year to go?
Winter Traveler (#5), I arrived last July, and should be here for three years. There is winter storm watch in effect from late tonight through thursday afternoon, so I didn’t escape winter. A lot of Californians have migrated to Colorado Springs in the past few years and it is popular sport here to blame poor bad-weather driving on them (they get blamed for lots of other things too).