Texas megachurch leaves PCUSA to join conservative denomination

Chiqui Guyjoco Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Presbyterian Church (USA) granted dismissal to Texas-based Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC), one of its largest congregations, so that it could join the conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO) instead.

The megachurch in Houston, with around 3,700 members, sought dismissal after the Mainline denomination apparently veered toward a pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) stance. PCUSA Presbytery of New Covenant granted its request Saturday, July 16 after a referendum that turned in favor of the move.

First Presbyterian Church (Hollywood), July 2015 | Creative Commons

"The presbytery dismissed them on a voice vote that was overwhelmingly in favor," Mike Cole, general presbyter for the Presbytery of New Covenant, told The Christian Post.

MDPC joins the list of almost 300 congregations that already extricated themselves from the increasingly progressive denomination. It also aims to add itself as member to the group of theological conservatives that formed ECO, with increasing members of more than 280 congregations.

"Following the vote, the presbytery prayed for the congregation, pastors and leaders as they transition into another denomination," said Cole.

MDPC spokeswoman Eva Kaminski asserted that its members perceive ECO as "the best fit for MDPC."

"Congregational survey was 79 percent to be dismissed; Session vote was 85 percent," Kaminski told the Christian publication.

MDPC received a quitclaim deed to their church property granted by the presbytery of New Covenant in exchange of the congregation's agreement to continue its monthly support for the presbytery of $13,750 for the next five years and $2,083 monthly for mission support. Their settlement thereby ended their legal battle.

Similarly, the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem (FPCB) voted overwhelmingly to join ECO and faced legal battles with PCUSA's regional body, the Lehigh Presbytery. FPCB filed a case against the regional body to prevent it from taking ownership of the congregation's properties or from replacing its leadership.

The regional body also filed a countersuit in addition to the one previously filed to prevent FPCB from separating.

The court would determine FPCB's case by October.

"The position of the Lehigh Presbytery is that the actions taken to separate First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem from the PC(USA) and to affiliate with ECO are invalid and ineffective," said Lehigh Presbytery's legal representative Jackson Eaton.