First Presbyterian takes up an entire city block at 219 E. Bijou. Under PCUSA, ownership is in trust through the Pueblo Presbytery. Officials there did not return calls seeking comment. When churches split, there is often ferocious battles over church property.

First Presbyterian Church Colorado Springs will vote Sunday on whether to proceed with efforts to leave its national organization.

The church, one of the first in Colorado Springs, was founded in 1872.

With about 4,000 members it is one of the largest in the country that belongs to the Presbyterian Church (USA). It may seek to join the conservative Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (ECO).

Nationally, Presbyterians have been battling over same-sex marriage and ordination of homosexuals since last spring, when PCUSA agreed to allow gays and lesbians to be ordained ministers.

The Colorado Springs congregation will take what it termed a non-technical vote at 3 p.m. Sunday in the downtown sanctuary. Depending on that outcome, there could be an official vote later. A team from the regional Pueblo Presbytery, which oversees First Presbyterian and 25 other churches, will be at the meeting.

The local governing board voted in January to recommend that the congregation request dismissal from PCUSA.

Pastor Jim Singleton was not available Friday for comment.

First Presbyterian staff leader Alison Murray said there are many complicated theological issues that the congregation must consider.

The governing board began talking about the issue 10 months ago, and in January Singleton gave a series of talks on the theology involved, according to the church website.

The website provides this explanation: “As a church, First Pres adheres to a Reformed and Evangelical approach to Scripture. This is reflected several ways including the way we submit to the Authority of Scripture as well as the way we interpret Scripture. For a variety of reasons, the PC(USA) is moving to a more liberal, rational interpretation that allows for individual interpretation and interpretation that reflects current culture. A Reformed Evangelical approach, while looking at context, looks to the Bible and the consistency in the Bible on particular topics for answers to current questions.

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