[SmithL]

PCA does not allow the ordination of women. ECO does.

This is certainly an oversimplification, but it looks like PCA is similar to LCMS (Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod), while ECO is more like the newer LCMC (Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ) or the NALC (North American Lutheran Church).

[hinckley buzzard]

Typical splintering. This is what happens when voluntary gatherings based on faith have no bottom line authority. Eventually there will be a fairly coherent re-alignment of one set of secular liberal social clubs like TEC, ELCA and PCUSA against a collection of closely related, generally conservative but bickering splinter churches. In the meantime, many people will wash their hands of organized religion altogether.

[lightman]

Worth noting that the process of Prebyterian congregations departing PCUSA is not as easy or fincially painless as the process for Lutheran congregations departing the ELCA.

In adddition to the requisite meetings, supermajority votes, and consultation with higher entities the local Presbytery assesses a multi-thousand dollar departure fee which must be paid, even if the congregation predates the formation of the Presbytery (as in the case of a congregation in my county with which I am very familiar).