PC(USA)

Ramifications of Amendment 10-A, passed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which allows lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) clergy to be ordained as pastors, are still affecting the Presbyterian community and forcing some churches to split.

One hundred of the 10,300 PC(USA) congregations have branched off from the denomination since the ban against partnered gays was officially lifted last year.

Amendment 10-A was passed by Presbyterian leaders in a 373 to 323 vote at the 2010 General Assembly on July 8. A majority vote from the 173 presbyteries was required to ratify the overture – a change that allows noncelibate LGBT clergy to serve at Presbyterian churches. There have been three previous attempts since 1997 to get the motion passed. The fourth time around, a majority of the presbyteries chose to approve the measure. more >>

Another church in America may soon split from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) following the recent changes in the denomination’s standards, including the allowance of gay clergy and lay leaders.

The First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach, Fla., is expected to begin discussions of the potential split Wednesday night among their congregants, which totals more than 1,000 members.

Ken Kirby, one of the organizers of the upcoming meeting, told The Palm Beach Post “it would be oversimplifying to reduce the decision to the issue of gay clergy.” more >>

The fallout from the decision of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to allow noncelibate homosexuals to become clergy and lay leaders continues as more churches vote to break away.

Sumner Presbyterian Church of Sumner, Wash., voted on Sunday to leave the PC (USA) due to the change in the denomination’s constitution.

Around 90 percent of the congregation supported the move to break away, with the church planning to become part of the Evangelical Covenant Church. more >>

As many college graduates suffer from crippling academic related debts, one Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) seminary has decided to implement a possible solution.

Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, a Kentucky school with around 150 full-time students, announced on Wednesday that it will give full scholarships for all students enrolled in their masters programs starting in 2015.

Patrick Cecil, vice president and CFO at Louisville, told The Christian Post that the seminary can afford to do this due to an endowment of $80 million and by capping enrollment at 130 students. more >>

A theologically conservative Presbyterian group held an event Monday in Pittsburgh to help equip churches that are considering separation from the mainline Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The New Wineskins Association of Churches, the group that sponsored the event, hopes to have churches return to a “historic orthodox faith.”

“Many churches are asking questions, both theological and civil, in their process of discerning where God is leading them to serve the Kingdom. We decided to hold an event because no one else was stepping forward to address these hard questions,” said Eric Amundson, pastor and board member for the NWAC, in an interview with The Christian Post. more >>

A Sacramento, Calif., congregation voted Sunday to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), months after the denomination removed its ban on openly gay clergy.

Fremont Presbyterian Church members approved a measure to seek dismissal from the PC(USA), 427 to 164, according to The Sacramento Bee. The church plans to join the smaller and more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

It was in May of this year when a majority of the PC(USA)'s 173 presbyteries chose to do away with the denomination's requirement for clergy to live “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.” more >>