Hope Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis started the process of leaving the Presbyterian denomination as a result of its recent vote in favor of allowing homosexual members to become ordained as church leaders. PCUSA required that Hope Presbyterian Church to pay $1.2 million as well as give up one of its campuses in order to do so, according to a report from Christian Post.
“We had hoped for a much smaller settlement,” David Lenz, a pastor from Hope Presbyterian Church, told Christian Post. “It took time to accept that this was the price we must pay to follow what we believe to be God’s call.”
The church is required to pay such a cost because of the “Trust Clause,” which is a section of the Constitution of the PCUSA which states that the church’s property “is held in trust for the benefit and use of PCUSA.”
Once the process of leaving PCUSA is complete, Hope Presbyterian Church will be joining a sect of the Presbyterian Church called the Evangelical Covenant of Presbyterians.
“We look forward to being a denomination whose mission is to help congregations flourish. We anticipate being challenged by ECO to participate in church planting and formation of new worshipping communities. We value ECO’s clear affirmation of women in leadership,” stated Pastor Lenz.
The congregation of Hope Presbyterian Church voted with an “overwhelming” majority to leave PCUSA.
“When a denomination lacks a coherent theological center, mission gets sidelined. When a denomination lacks trust, relationships are difficult. When a denomination has a bureaucratic mindset, innovative ministry is hampered,” said a statement from the church leadership.
