See First Presbyterian votes to leave denomination from the Orlando paper.
This seems like rather big news that was quite under covered :
Members of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando voted overwhelmingly Sunday to break away from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to join the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
The 1,759 to 185 vote exceeded the two-thirds majority needed to seek dismissal from the PC (USA). The 3,600-member First Presbyterian is the largest Presbyterian church in Florida and fourth largest in the nation.
"Change is never easy," said Senior Pastor David Swanson, "but I believe our congregation has prayerfully discerned God's leading for us, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for First Presbyterian Church as she embarks on this new phase of ministry and service for his sake."
First Presbyterian has been losing membership in recent years and blamed some of that on PC (USA) doctrines that permitted the ordination of gay deacons, elders and clergy. Some also blamed the decline on doctrines that quest questioned the Bible as the literal word of God and Jesus Christ as the only salvation..................
What is striking is that have lopsided that vote was in the end
Friday, February 3, 2012
Fourth Largest Presbyterian Church Leaves Presbyterian Church (USA) ( Orlando )
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2 comments:
While the Adminsitration's position is dead wrong, the public polling on this issue is very bad. Even conservative Protestants accept contraception and are not engaged on the religious liberty issue (in part because the last time conservative Protestants made a major gripe about federal law on church schools is was about race, and they would prefer not to revist their actions in that era).
A lot of the public swinging against the Church misudnerstands this issue in thinking their access to contraception is at risk. That is not true.
I totally agree. I think though if the message is hammered home about the big issue thereis a still a chance.
What I fear is a new front will open up what this can of worms is opened. That is "conservative" Churches will now retaliate against more progressive Churches by the use of the Govt power once they gain power. This will go back and forth and back forth depending who is in power.
It's an escalation we have not seen and have avoided. I can't believe no one seems the long term problem
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