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.”
The “friendly terms” situation is ironic when you consider that the “play book” that TEC has been using to ravage the parishes leaving it came from the PCUSA, written in back in the days when the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) was leaving it over issues of orthodoxy.
After many decades the PCUSA has come to its senses (at least in this way) and realized that scorched earth serves no purpose and accomplishes nothing good for anyone.
Maybe TEC could take a page from [i]that[/i] playbook.
What a Christian thing to do.
Imagine that…