SAN JOSE, Calif. — The Layman Online reported  that on a 395-286-9 vote Thursday, June 26, 2008, delegates to the 218th Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly passed a resolution to provide up to $2 million "for the purpose of sharing the cost of legal fees defending our Constitution against the New Wineskins non-geographic presbytery of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church."

 
An amendment was added to overture 03-21, asking that "the Office of the General Assembly establish and promote an Extra Commitment Opportunity (ECO) account" to help with funding the fight.
 
The amendment was proposed by the Rev. Richard Reifsnyder of Shenandoah Presbytery. "It’s important that this be viewed as something to be shared across the church in our connectional system," he said.
 
Floor debate on the resolution was lively:
The Rev. Robert Austell of Charlotte Presbytery spoke against the motion: "Whether $2 million or an ECO, there is an immeasurable cost to what this motion proposed. That damage is done to real human beings in our midst and our witness of Jesus Christ in the world. We need to offer a gracious process to dismiss those who leave and care for those who stay. There is a better way."
 
The Rev. Dwight Blackstock of Denver Presbytery favored the motion, saying that "it is more than property. In the case of Northern New England, the presbytery has been enjoined from being the presbytery there, unable to replace the session, unable to do many of the things we would expect a presbytery to do. It’s very important that we find ways as a whole church to help presbyteries find ways to litigate in ways hopefully that are graceful, but if not, then we need to do what we have to do in order to be the church."
 
The Rev. Daniel Moore of Donegal Presbytery spoke against the motion: "We were just told that we can’t spare $100,000 to help the healing of dozens of sexually molested victims. I will not vote in favor of spending $2 million to take my brothers and sisters to court or to give them threat."
 
Elder Ingrid Cyros, a commissioner from Northern New England Presbytery and co-sponsor of the resolution, said, "This item represents an important step and action to partner and coordinate an effort with churches that are struggling to stay in this denomination, challenged by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. We’re in court defending our constitutional right to religious freedom and the right to govern ourselves under our PCUSA Constitution."
 
The Rev. Ron Oldenkamp of Sacramento Presbytery described himself as "a PCUSA pastor serving in an evangelical congregation" and spoke against the motion: "I know full well the cost that is involved in all of this. Sacramento Presbytery was able to negotiate an agreement without lawsuit to dismiss my congregation and another congregation as well. We have found ourselves now in court. I would ask that this assembly look beyond ourselves to the larger kingdom of God. We can do a better thing that won’t cost this money to free it up for mission."
 
Youth Advisory Delegate Adam Weber from Greater Atlanta Presbytery spoke in favor of the motion, saying, "If we cannot help our brothers and sisters in this connectional church, what can we do?"
 
The Committee on the Office of General Assembly noted in a comment that 39 additional presbyteries face or have faced similar legal battles.
 
PCUSA clergy and bureaucrats have accused the EPC of "actively pursuing" PCUSA churches. EPC Stated Clerk and Executive Pastor Jeff Jeremiah has repeatedly denied the charges and requested evidence substantiating the accusation. That evidence has not been produced.