“The PC (USA) has turned its back on God and is a denomination dying the wilderness,” said Cleat Simmons, a church elder, who favored leaving.

Members of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando voted overwhelmingly Sunday to break away from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to join the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC).

The 1,759 to 185 vote exceeded the two-thirds majority needed to seek dismissal from the PC (USA). The 3,600-member First Presbyterian is the largest Presbyterian church in Florida and fourth largest in the nation.

“Change is never easy,” said Senior Pastor Davis Swanson, “but I believe our congregation has prayerfully discerned God’s leading for us, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for First Presbyterian Church as she embarks on this new phase of ministry and service for his sake.”

First Presbyterian has been losing membership in recent years and blamed some of that on PC (USA) doctrines that permitted the ordination of gay deacons, elders and clergy. Some also blamed the decline on doctrines that quest questioned the Bible as the literal word of God and Jesus Christ as the only salvation.

In a polite, hour-long debate, members debated whether to leave the PC (USA).

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