Unlike some other efforts surrounding the theological drift, Simonds says his motives in drafting the petition is to encourage members to remain with the PCUSA and work for change, rather than departing for another denomination.

A group of Presbyterians who plan to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA) but who are concerned about the increasing theological drift within their denomination have posted an online petition as an act of conscience.

On Feb. 14, the Biblical Presbyterian Network (BPN) released “Here We Stand,” a seven-point petition criticizing what the group calls a “confusion about the interpretation and authority of Scripture for our lives” within the PCUSA.

A number of Presbyterians have grown disaffected with the PCUSA following the 2011 approval of Amendment 10A and the passage of a new Form of Government (nFOG) as symptoms of more serious underlying problems in the denomination: variant approaches to the authority of Scripture.

Amendment 10A deleted the explicit “fidelity/chastity” requirement from the constitutional ordination standard, and now allows the PCUSA to ordain of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people as deacons, elders and pastors. The new Form of Government has raised concerns of a more “top-down” PCUSA bureaucracy and a universalistic theology.

“The signers recognize the essential Reformed belief that all are sinners, broken and in need of a Savior,” a BPN press releases states. “They then repent of their lack of compassion for those struggling with same-sex attraction and re-commit to making Jesus Christ the center of their lives. “

“I am in this because I am not going to be about political maneuvers, compromises or public silence and private grousing,” the Rev. Mark Simonds said. Simonds, who originally drafted the petition added, “It is not an attempt to encourage anyone to leave the PCUSA.”

Read More (Including a link to sign the petition)

[Editor’s note: Original URLs (links) referenced in this article are no longer valid, so the links have been removed.]