A Texas congregation has split over a vote taken to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) over theological differences, with a sizable minority of voting members opting to stay with the mainline denomination.

Of 370 members of First Presbyterian Church of Longview, 282 voted in favor of leaving the PC(USA) while 84 voted against leaving and six voted to be with whatever side kept the church property.

Until the issue over the church property is addressed, the two congregations will worship at different facilities. The breakaway majority decided to start holding worship services at a building formerly used by a Lutheran congregation. The remaining minority will continue to hold services at the FPC Longview building. more >>

A Texas congregation is considering a vote to break away from Presbyterian Church (USA) due to the denomination's growing acceptance of homosexuality.

The congregation of First Presbyterian Church of Longview will hold a vote on Sunday as to whether or not they will remain part of the PC(USA).

Pastor Jonathan Jehorek of First Presbyterian told local media that the vote was unprecedented and that he himself intended to relinquish his ordination in the PC(USA) effective next Monday. more >>

Months after having her censure affirmed by the highest court in the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Rev. Jane Spahr, known by some as the "lesbian evangelist," was given a vote of support from a California presbytery.

The Presbytery of the Redwoods on Tuesday voted 74 to 18 in favor of a motion opposing the censure affirmed by the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly back in February.

The Rev. Dr. Robert Conover, stated clerk for the Redwoods Presbytery, said in a statement, "The motion was very thoughtfully crafted and carefully worded to express the presbytery's opposition. In other words, the vote of the presbytery was effectively a collective dissent by an overwhelming majority of members present." more >>

As the Presbyterian Church (USA) continues struggling with internal theological issues pertaining to the ordaining of gay priests and same-sex marriage, one Presbyterian Calif. church is leaving the denomination because it is not liberal enough.

The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles will formally join the more liberal United Church of Christ on Saturday, and is claiming that the larger, 2-million member (PCUSA) has not done enough to accept homosexuals though it lifted its ban on the ordination of openly gay clergy last year.

The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church has had a progressive congregation with about 57 members since the 1980s, and is ready to be "set free," according to gay pastor the Rev. Dan Smith. more >>

A Presbyterian Church (USA) seminary in New York has honored Planned Parenthood leaders with its "Lives of Commitment" Award.

Auburn Seminary of New York awarded Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), and Cecilia Guthrie Boone, chair of PPFA, at a breakfast benefit on Wednesday along with several other people.

Auburn Seminary provided The Christian Post with a statement on the event, which states that the breakfast benefit event "honors women whose inspiring and courageous leadership sets an example for others and makes a meaningful impact on society." more >>

Two Mississippi Presbyterian churches have voted to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) over increasing theological differences.

The congregations at First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs and First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula voted Sunday to leave the 2 million-member PC(USA) and join the smaller and more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Matt Mitchell, pastor of FPC Pascagoula, told The Christian Post that his congregation of 337 members voted to leave because of a sense that the denomination has left its "biblical center." more >>