Church leaders have said or stated that the PCUSA no longer clearly communicates why and how Jesus matters to a world that needs to know him, citing a denomination-level rejection of the statement “Jesus is the singular saving Lord.” They also cited a change in the PCUSA’s understanding and application of biblical authority from the historic Reformed tradition approach to one better characterized as “religious humanism.”

Members of the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond voted 815-55 to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and join the Evangelical Covenant Order.

Sunday’s action was billed as the most significant in the history of the church, established following the Land Run of 1889. Inspired by Christ’s command to love others, members have played key roles in creating Mobile Meals, Citizens Caring for Children, the HOPE Center, Habitat for Humanity, Project READ, the community Thanksgiving Dinner and more recently Turning Point Ministries. Church leaders have said the congregation will not stop supporting local causes.

On Monday, First Presbyterian representatives were to meet with the Indian Nation’s Presbytery, the regional governing body, which had to authorize the “gracious dismissal” from the PCUSA, one of nine Presbyterian denominations in the United States.

For the vote, members had to be in good standing and present, a denominational rule that prevented military members of the congregation who are serving overseas from voting.

Following Sunday’s vote, Indian Nations Presbytery representative Tom Laubert, chairperson of the administrative panel working through related issues, said the Presbytery had to approve the terms of the settlement, which included a one-time payment of about $510,000 and First Presbyterian remaining within a Reformed denomination for 10 years. Local leaders have said the congregation has no intention of leaving Presbyterianism.

“I suspect that will probably happen without much turmoil,” Laubert said, adding there is always an element of uncertainty, just as there was with the congregation’s vote. “Tonight, the weight of the world was lifted off the congregation. Tomorrow the rest of the weight of the world will be lifted off.”

The Presbytery vote was scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday. Under its rules, the PCUSA retains property rights over local property. First Presbyterian leaders said the settlement will help fill the Indian Nations Presbytery’s financial gap created by its departure.

REACTION TO THE VOTE

Following the vote, Senior Pastor Mateen Elass said the congregation is standing firmly for the authority of Scripture and the uniqueness and lordship of Jesus.

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REASONS FOR ACTION

….Originally, the Reformed tradition, declared Christ alone is the mediator between God and humankind, that Scripture alone is the only authoritative word of God and is the only rule of faith and practice in Christian life, that salvation is a gift from God, not the result of human works, that by faith alone humans are declared just by God and all work in the church is done to the glory of God alone.

Also, First Presbyterian leaders cited an apparent lack of interest in the PCUSA doing evangelism, illustrated by the denomination’s accelerating loss of membership, a broken denomination-level disciplinary system and a recent change in ordination standards that allows the possibility that persons in same-gender relationships can be considered for ordination.

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