The moves are broadly seen as realignment within mainline Protestant denominations over issues including ordination of gay clergy, interpretation of scripture and church governance.

One congregation of a Memphis-area Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted to affiliate with a more conservative denomination.

The vote on Sunday by members of Advent Presbyterian Church was 482-22 to ask for dismissal from the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is based in Louisville, Ky. The members seek to affiliate with the smaller Evangelical Presbyterian Church that has administrative offices in Michigan and includes about 300 congregations, according to The Commercial Appeal. The larger denomination includes 11,000 congregations.

The PCUSA Mid-South Presbytery is expected to approve Advent’s request next month.

Two other area churches are considering the same move. Woodland United Presbyterian Church in Memphis has scheduled a May 1 vote by the congregation and the governing body of Grace Presbyterian in Bartlett is set to discuss it April 19.

Advent would join two other local congregations is leaving the largest Presbyterian body in the nation. Highland Heights Presbyterian Church switched affiliation in 2008 and Faith Presbyterian Church in Germantown followed in 2009. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has created a presbytery to receive congregations leaving the larger group.

The moves are broadly seen as realignment within mainline Protestant denominations over issues including ordination of gay clergy, interpretation of scripture and church governance.

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/Congregation-votes-to-change-denominations-1333474.php#ixzz1JQ3k7Wsv

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