I ALSO didn't know that "Officials" there who made the tough choice had to face a $8.89 million cost for the church’s property and membership fees.
I suppose we shouldn't be surprised that money plays such a prominent part of their national congregation. LOVE OF money plays a prominent part of MANY people's lives, regardless of faith or nationality.
Actually, I think that compared to other PCUSA churches, HP got a bargain. Here in Atlanta, churches that are interested in leaving with their property are being told much higher sums — some in the $50 million range. It is stifling the exodus here. This process of leaving varies greatly from presbytery to presbytery and state to state.
My former home church in Houston just had their vote to leave and was a couple dozen votes shy of the 2/3rds necessary. Irregularities were found with enough ballots to be questionable, but another vote was not allowed.