Although congregations give a variety of reasons for leaving, most say the root of dissension rests with what they call an erosion of Scriptural authority following several controversial shifts within the PCUSA.

One of the fastest growing Presbyterian denominations in the U.S. may soon launch another presbytery to handle its continued growth – at a time when many disaffected churches of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are seeking a new denominational home.

On Sept. 7, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church announced a planning meeting to possibly form a new presbytery that would comprise congregations in Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

During the denomination’s 2012 General Assembly in June, commissioners tasked the EPC’s Committee on Administration with developing and creating a new presbytery in those states.

Since 2007, the number of congregations joining the EPC has ballooned from 182 to a doubling of 364. Since its previous General Assembly in 2011, 61 have been accepted. Even as the EPC grows, the PCUSA – beleaguered by theological dissension and shifting demographics – has been on the decline. The 2011 statistics show that membership in the PCUSA is now less than 2 million people and that contributions have decreased by more than $20 million.

Total membership in the PCUSA at the end of 2011 was 1,952,287, showing a loss of 63,804 members since 2010. Membership in the denomination has fallen each year since 1965 when the PCUSA reached its highest total membership of 4,254,597.

Read More [Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]