Survey of members: 61 percent recommended breaking from the PC (USA). The majority of those in support of the split say the national denomination is no longer consistent with their beliefs, chief of which they say is that Jesus Christ is the one path to salvation and the Bible is God’s authoritative word. Sixty-six percent said they opposed the move by the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 2015 to allow same-sex marriage and 67 percent do not believe non-celibate homosexuals should be permitted to serve as pastors, elders and deacons within the church — a change the PC (USA) permitted in 2010.

The First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem is looking to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Survey at First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem cites gay marriage, ministers as divisive issues

Largest church in Lehigh Presbytery could be leaving

The largest Presbyterian church in the Lehigh Valley has begun a process that could lead to a split from the most visible national denomination — a move initiated after a survey showed most of its congregants disagree with church positions, including those allowing same-sex marriage and the ordination of gay ministers.

The leadership of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem voted on June 15 to enter the discernment process to leave Presbyterian Church (USA), or PC (USA), and seek affiliation with ECO: a Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians after spending years considering the move.

The 140-year-old church on Center Street in Bethlehem has 2,609 members and would be the largest congregation to leave the Lehigh Presbytery, the group of congregations covering seven counties in eastern Pennsylvania.

But it’s certainly not the first to do so.

Dave Duquette, moderator of the Lehigh Presbytery and pastor of Pennside Presbyterian Church in Reading, said First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem is the fourth congregation in as many years to begin the process. Churches in Middle Smithfield Township and Milford, Pike County, have left the mainline denomination, and the First Presbyterian Church of Reading is in the midst of the discernment process, according to Duquette.

The discernment process, slated to begin in September, will provide the Lehigh Presbytery a chance to address concerns of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and gauge the true intent of the congregation before a vote is taken, Duquette said. There is no timeline for the process. Should the congregation vote to depart, the presbytery and the church would work out a settlement for property and assets, he said.

“The ultimate goal from the presbytery side is reconciliation,” Duquette said. “It’s certainly a significant moment in life of First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem and we take that seriously. It’s a dynamic and tremendous church and we would like to see their place in the Lehigh Presbytery continue.”

Leaders of the First Presbyterian Church of Bethlehem have declined to comment as the discernment process begins, but information on the church’s website about the leadership’s decision sheds light on their concerns.

The church’s leadership cited a “denominational drift” over the past two decades that has come into sharp focus in the last five years.

“This is not a decision that has been lightly reached,” the church’s clerk of sessions, Ann Terres, wrote in a letter to the parish.

In its list of reasons for seeking separation, church leadership explains that it is at odds with the “much broader and wider ranging theological and biblical interpretations” encouraged by the Presbyterian Church (USA). Among the most contentious issues are those of human sexuality, according to the church.

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