Posted on 12/12/2007 9:43:51 AM PST by PAR35
Two of the largest churches in Sacramento Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will leave the denomination with their properties for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Jan. 1, now that their dismissal requests have been approved.
Presbytery commissioners agreed at their stated meeting Dec. 4 to dismiss Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Fair Oaks, Calif., the presbytery's largest with 2,286 members, and First Presbyterian Church in Roseville, Calif., the presbytery's third-largest with 1,143 members. The vote totals were 146-18 for the Fair Oaks Church's dismissal, said Bill Cole, an elder and spokesman for that church, and 153-11 for the Roseville church's dismissal, said the Rev. Dr. Jim Barstow, senior pastor of that church.
In exchange for being dismissed with its property, each church will make an "irrevocable gift" of cash to the presbytery. Fair Oaks Church must pay either $250,000 by Jan. 31, 2017, or a "discounted early payment option" totaling $180,000 by June 30, 2008. The Roseville church must pay $160,000 by Jan. 31, 2015.
(Excerpt) Read more at layman.org ...
FPC Roseville has been growing over the last 10 years, with an average attendance of about 1100, almost twice what it was in 1998. Annual contributions are about $2.2 million. Roseville offers contemporary, blended, and traditional worship services.
Fair Oaks has been in decline over the past 10 years, dropping from attendance of about 2400 to about 1600. Annual giving is about $3.3 million. It looks like it has a couple of 'blended' services an a contemporary one.
It doesn't look like the required payment will be unduly burdensome for either congregation.
ping for later
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