Posted on 02/17/2015 6:15:53 AM PST by cll
In an act of full obedience to biblical authority, this past Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, the congregation of Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana en Bayamón (First Presbyterian Church in Bayamón), located in Santa Rosa Community, resigned in plenary from the Presbyterian Church of United States of America (PCUSA) and declared itself an independent Reformed Presbyterian congregation, under the name Iglesia Presbiteriana Westminster (Westminster Presbyterian Church), seeking to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).
This action, which included over 250 signers, was taken mostly due to the arbitrary and repressive positions assumed by the Commission for Evaluation, Education and Resolution of the Presbytery of San Juan, after the Bayamón congregation communicated their opposition to the position assumed by the PCUSA regarding: 1) the authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2) the centrality of the work of Christ, 3) abortion, 4) same-sex marriage and 5) the ordination of homosexuals, among other topics; and requested to transfer their membership to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination in the United States.
(Excerpt) Read more at charismanews.com ...
Good for them. PC-USA is a mushy mess. PC USA is concerned with being PC....
On the other hand, PCA is much more Biblical.
When I was in Culebra in 2009 I saw a Presbyterian church holding an evening service. It was the first time I was back in PR since I was a kid and it blew my mind. When I was a kid living in PR only mainland non-Puerto Rican Americans were Presbyterians/Protestants. Puerto Ricans were all Catholic or their version of Santeria or both. So seeing only Puerto Ricans at that Presbyterian church service really struck me as unusual but I guess not so unusual with the change of era.
Did they get to keep their building?
It will be interesting to see if the PCA picks up some congregations. Probably a handful. Most will want to keep their female ministers, even if they object to the queering of the church. I grew up in a PCA church. I admire their willingness to stick to the Truth.
Will they have to purchase the property from the PCUSA. When Dr, D. James Kennedy church split from the PCUSA, it had to go to court regarding the property. PCA and EPC are conservative denominations they work in conjunction with each other the PCA has its own MDIV granting seminary and EPC has its own MDIV granting seminary. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in Puerto Rico, as the Puerto Rican courts will probably get involved too.
I’ve known, and know, PCA and PC USA pastors. Big big difference.
PCA - Presbyterian Church of America - Atlanta Georgia seminary is St. Louis Missouri Covenant.
EPC - Evangelical Prsebyterian Church
I will have to check where this one is based out of, formerly I was PCA but left after a non-fault divorce.
I had to start over with a new church denomination and a whole new educational endeavour. Now with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod - ultra-conservative out of Milwaukee, WIsconsin (it has its own schools in New Ulm Minnesota and Thiensville, WI)
This defection reminds me of Anglicans/Episcopalians jumping ship and joining the Catholic Church over the same issue, among others.
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