Events Calendar
In This Section
Most Read Stories
Suitcase causes bomb scare at Akron bus terminal
Akron City Council OKs higher speed on I-77
Chapel Hill isn't rolling right along
Motorcyclist killed, wife injured in Stark County crash
New eateries expand menu of options
Man says he was punched, robbed by 3 people in parking lot
Patrick McManamon: Here's what the Browns should try the rest of the season
Louisville athlete commits to play for Boston College
Family found dead in Ohio home
Blogs:
Pets:
It Takes All Kinds
The Heldenfiles:
Tuesday Notebook
Patrick McManamon:
An interesting thought from a reader
Akron Zips:
Akron vs. Mount Union — Liveblog
Tribe Matters:
Indians announce spring dates
Cleveland Browns:
Mangini doesn't name a quarterback
Kent State Sports:
Flashes interested in another Cincinnati player
Cleveland Cavaliers:
Shaq: It’s All About Winning Championships
Buckeye Blogging:
Buckeyes Roll 100-60 / Season Outlook
Varsity Letters:
Report: Walsh baseball player commits
All Da King's Men:
More On The Fort Hood Jihadist
Blog of Mass Destruction:
Simply Incapable of Telling The Truth
Akron Law Café:
Health Care Financing Reform: (63) Commonwealth Fund Report on Primary Care
See Jane Style:
Muffle Your Muffler
Car Chase:
Clock Tender- Extending the Life of Collector Car Clocks
Let's Talk Real Estate:
Rumors: Akron Starbucks Closing
Ohio Travels with Betty:
Jack is looking for a trip to Southern Ohio the week of November 16.
Sound Check:
Aeromsith looking for new singer as Steven Tyler contemplates solo career
HRLite House:
Personal Rant – Why People Do Not Live in Northeast Ohio
Akron Gamer:
Video: 'Modern Warfare 2' hits the streets
Stow Presbyterian severs its ties to denomination
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, May 15, 2008
The regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and representatives of the Stow Presbyterian Church have reached an agreement that allows the local congregation to keep the church property.
The pact comes after 18 months of discussions between the Stow church and the Eastminster Presbytery, according to the Rev. Dan Schomer, who leads the Mineral Ridge-based presbytery, which includes 55 churches in Summit, Portage, Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties.
''The action to dissolve the congregation effectively severs the ties of the church to the denomination and permits it to continue its ministry as an independent congregation,'' Schomer said in a prepared statement.
As part of the deal, the presbytery agreed not to pursue legal action for property rights to the church facility based on the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) that states the property is held in trust for the denomination.
The Stow Church promised to provide a gift of $40,000 in direct support of mission projects of the presbytery over five years.
The Rev. David Weyrick, pastor of Stow Presbyterian Church, said his congregation is pleased with the resolution.
''The important thing is that we have handled everything with integrity as fellow believers,'' Weyrick said. ''We don't have a problem with Eastminster Presbytery and I give them kudos for the mission work that it is doing. We are a mission-oriented church and we want to support mission efforts, like the food pantry at First Presbyterian Church [in Akron].''
The congregation at the Stow church voted in October 2006 to leave the denomination. That decision was based on what the Stow church says was the denomination's failure to uphold the lordship of Jesus Christ and the infallibility of Scripture.
Other points of discord are a decline in world missions and the acceptance of a policy paper on sex-inclusive language for the Holy Trinity.
The Stow church has been operating as an independent congregation and moved into its new $1.2 million, 350-seat sanctuary a few weeks ago.
While the property issue at the Stow church has been resolved, the congregation at Hudson Presbyterian Church is awaiting a court ruling.
In October, a magistrate in Summit County Common Pleas Court ruled that the Hudson Presbyterian Church property on Streetsboro Street belongs to the faction of the congregation that voted (166-61) to leave the denomination. That portion of the congregation has been worshipping at the facility since the Nov. 5, 2006, vote to break away.
Shortly after the vote, the presbytery named the minority wishing to stay with the denomination as the true Hudson Presbyterian Church and organized regular worship and fellowship services for that group.
The minority group ordained a new pastor last month and is worshipping at the historic Church on the Green in Hudson.
The attorney for the presbytery has filed an objection to the magistrate's ruling, saying it contradicts the denomination's constitution. The presbytery contends that the property belongs to the minority group that voted to continue as a PCUSA congregation.
''There are numerous differences between the two disputes,'' Schomer said. The most obvious is that the Stow Church has no loyal faction, while the Hudson Church has a strong core group loyal to the denomination that has formed a vibrant congregation under new pastoral leadership.''
Despite awaiting a decision by the court, the congregation at the church property has affiliated with the New Wineskins Association of Churches.
The New Wineskins is an organization within the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, a conservative denomination that has voted to accept congregations that are leaving the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. About 50 Presbyterian congregations have voted to leave the denomination since its national assembly in 2006.
The congregations, primarily representing conservative views, cite theological differences as points of contention.
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com.
The regional governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and representatives of the Stow Presbyterian Church have reached an agreement that allows the local congregation to keep the church property.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
