More info in these two links:
http://www.styrk.com/posts/first-presbyterian-church-votes-today-on-proposal-to-leave-denomination
http://www.columbusfpc.org/wp-content/uploads/2014-10-09-Letter.pdf
Piecing these together, it's still hard to get a read on the pastor's own position. However, we can tell it was the elders (through a committee) who recommended the split, and that's not ordinarily done in direct contradiction to the pastor. Furthermore, the "gracious dismissal" seems it might be a term of art for the property connection with the main denomination. The property is owned by PCUSA and held in trust by the local congregation. It may be that if they could not get a two-thirds majority, they might lose the property to PCUSA if they went through with the split (an *un*gracious dismissal).
This, BTW, happens often when libs commandeer a once conservative denomination (usually through the seminaries). They end up with all the property.
So facing the dilemma of a church that is sure to split, but would likely have to start from scratch financially, what can he do? It's a disaster either way. I personally think he is NOT running loyal to the PCUSA, that he wanted the change, but in the least disruptive manner possible. That still doesn't leave us with a clear view of where he's coming from, but he did characterize the group that wanted to stay as "them" and the group that wanted the split as "us." So there's some other layer of complexity there. Tough to speculate without better information.
Peace,
SR