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New Presbyterian church organized
Group of former First Presbyterian Church congregation members plan to launch new church in Paola
By: Brian McCauley, bmccauley@miconews.com
The Rev. Kirk Johnston and about 20 congregation members patiently waited in the foyer of the First Presbyterian Church in Paola on Wednesday as the clock's hands inched closer and closer to noon.
Just one day earlier, Johnston was told by an administrative commission of the Heartland Presbytery that the church's session, a group of leaders elected by the congregation, was going to be replaced.
“The administrative commission will assume original jurisdiction on 14 November 2007 at 12 p.m.,” the clerk pro-tem of the commission wrote in an e-mail sent Tuesday to the session's clerk.
Anxious eyes kept a close watch on the church's entrance Wednesday, but the noon deadline passed, and no one from the Heartland Presbytery based in Kansas City, Mo., showed up.
The day marked another step in a process that began back in June, when more than 70 percent of the church's voting congregation members asked to be dismissed with property from the Presbyterian Church (USA) so they could join the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church and remain at their current location at 110 E. Peoria St. The vote was 229 to 83 in favor of dismissal.
The administrative commission denied that request in September, and both sides have been attempting to find common ground ever since. The session had agreed to take on the church's debt, but the Heartland Presbytery would not allow the group to take the building.
Despite the lack of a physical presence on Wednesday, the Heartland Presbytery's decision to dissolve the session and take control of the church pushed the congregation members looking to realign with the EPC to make a decision to leave without pursuing legal action.
“We've done everything we can, but we're not willing to fight this in court. For us, this was about the truth of God, and the minute it became solely about property, we knew we'd rather be wronged,” Johnston said. “We're trying to base our decision on what would honor Jesus.”
Jim Zakoura, member of the administrative commission and First Presbyterian Church in Osawatomie, said the session was asked to resign, but there is still great respect for those congregation members, and they were told they could remain as elders.
Mike Gibson, a 37-year member of the church and three-time member of the session, said planning for a new church already has begun. The Lighthouse Presbyterian Church, as it has been named, will meet for the first time at 10 a.m. Sunday at Evergreen Events in Paola, Gibson said.
The leaders of the new church are inviting any member of the current congregation to join them as well as anyone else in the community looking for a place to worship.
“We've offered positions to all our staff members,” Gibson said.
Johnston insists that he will not resign as a PC (USA) pastor, but he has been invited to give the sermon on Sunday at Evergreen Events as a guest pastor.
Wednesday afternoon, Johnston received another e-mail from the Heartland Presbytery stating that he had been placed on administrative leave effective at 5 p.m. that night. The leave offers Johnston pay and pension benefits as long as he no longer performs any pastoral and ministerial functions “in any worshipping community within the bounds of the Heartland Presbytery.”
Johnston responded by saying he was disappointed the news was not delivered in person, and he still planned to participate in the Kingdom Kids meeting with more than 100 children at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“If the presbytery thinks they can muzzle my voice for Christ with money, then they'd better prepare to just fire me,” Johnston said.
Zakoura said there will be a pastor filling in at the First Presbyterian Church while Johnston is on leave, and Sunday services as well as all the church programs will continue.
“It has been a great church in the community for over 100 years, and it will continue to be a great church for another 100 years,” Zakoura said.
The possibility of losing staff members doesn't make Zakoura worry about the stability of the church because he said there is still a strong congregation that wants to remain with the PC (USA).
Zakoura expects Sunday services, Wednesday night children programming, Sunday school, preschool, the thrift shop and other services to carry on.
Johnston and the church's elders have pushed for the dismissal because of what they say is a deterioration in the core values of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is the largest Presbyterian denomination with about 2.3 million members.
Several other PC (USA) congregations across the country have cited the same deterioration of values as the reasoning behind their interest in realigning with the EPC, which has about 70,000 members.
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Just one day earlier, Johnston was told by an administrative commission of the Heartland Presbytery that the church's session, a group of leaders elected by the congregation, was going to be replaced.
“The administrative commission will assume original jurisdiction on 14 November 2007 at 12 p.m.,” the clerk pro-tem of the commission wrote in an e-mail sent Tuesday to the session's clerk.
Anxious eyes kept a close watch on the church's entrance Wednesday, but the noon deadline passed, and no one from the Heartland Presbytery based in Kansas City, Mo., showed up.
The day marked another step in a process that began back in June, when more than 70 percent of the church's voting congregation members asked to be dismissed with property from the Presbyterian Church (USA) so they could join the conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church and remain at their current location at 110 E. Peoria St. The vote was 229 to 83 in favor of dismissal.
The administrative commission denied that request in September, and both sides have been attempting to find common ground ever since. The session had agreed to take on the church's debt, but the Heartland Presbytery would not allow the group to take the building.
Despite the lack of a physical presence on Wednesday, the Heartland Presbytery's decision to dissolve the session and take control of the church pushed the congregation members looking to realign with the EPC to make a decision to leave without pursuing legal action.
“We've done everything we can, but we're not willing to fight this in court. For us, this was about the truth of God, and the minute it became solely about property, we knew we'd rather be wronged,” Johnston said. “We're trying to base our decision on what would honor Jesus.”
Jim Zakoura, member of the administrative commission and First Presbyterian Church in Osawatomie, said the session was asked to resign, but there is still great respect for those congregation members, and they were told they could remain as elders.
Mike Gibson, a 37-year member of the church and three-time member of the session, said planning for a new church already has begun. The Lighthouse Presbyterian Church, as it has been named, will meet for the first time at 10 a.m. Sunday at Evergreen Events in Paola, Gibson said.
The leaders of the new church are inviting any member of the current congregation to join them as well as anyone else in the community looking for a place to worship.
“We've offered positions to all our staff members,” Gibson said.
Johnston insists that he will not resign as a PC (USA) pastor, but he has been invited to give the sermon on Sunday at Evergreen Events as a guest pastor.
Wednesday afternoon, Johnston received another e-mail from the Heartland Presbytery stating that he had been placed on administrative leave effective at 5 p.m. that night. The leave offers Johnston pay and pension benefits as long as he no longer performs any pastoral and ministerial functions “in any worshipping community within the bounds of the Heartland Presbytery.”
Johnston responded by saying he was disappointed the news was not delivered in person, and he still planned to participate in the Kingdom Kids meeting with more than 100 children at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“If the presbytery thinks they can muzzle my voice for Christ with money, then they'd better prepare to just fire me,” Johnston said.
Zakoura said there will be a pastor filling in at the First Presbyterian Church while Johnston is on leave, and Sunday services as well as all the church programs will continue.
“It has been a great church in the community for over 100 years, and it will continue to be a great church for another 100 years,” Zakoura said.
The possibility of losing staff members doesn't make Zakoura worry about the stability of the church because he said there is still a strong congregation that wants to remain with the PC (USA).
Zakoura expects Sunday services, Wednesday night children programming, Sunday school, preschool, the thrift shop and other services to carry on.
Johnston and the church's elders have pushed for the dismissal because of what they say is a deterioration in the core values of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is the largest Presbyterian denomination with about 2.3 million members.
Several other PC (USA) congregations across the country have cited the same deterioration of values as the reasoning behind their interest in realigning with the EPC, which has about 70,000 members.
Comments on "New Presbyterian church organized"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.FPC Member wrote on Dec 30, 2007 1:06 PM:
" The church we all grew up in, now in the hands of those who do not believe the same as those who started it is a loss indeed. But having the chance to start over anew is one of the biggest blessings anone can ever hope for. Being persicuted for Jesus Christ is the biggest sign of faith. "
Gordon McDowell wrote on Dec 15, 2007 1:41 PM:
" The "New Church" is two words that are often mistaken. The wonderful people with a pasion to follow Christ and remain in line with Gods Word, are not new. We have only obeyed the commands of our Heavenly Father. Jesus tells us many times to walk away from sin. The values of PCUSA have crossed that line and chosen to do what it takes to increase membership numbers, and dismiss it as "changing with the times". It is either right or wrong, and if it is questionable, its generaly wrong. I for one have chosen not to dwell among those who wish to remain in it. In regards to the property, it belongs to the Lord. 1Chronicles 29:11-12. The property does not make up the Church, the people do. When Jesus chose his 12 deciples, He did not give them a tent, camper, shelter or a building. He sent them out to spread the good news with the clothes on thier backs. Now dont misunderstan me, I too would like to have a building, but the cornerstone of my faith is not based on property. My family of five left the PCUSA because our faith is not negotiable. "
Robert Burdge wrote on Nov 30, 2007 9:17 PM:
" The PCUSA does not own the moniker "Presbyterian". Presbyterianism is still a noble form of church self-governance, even if the PCUSA is currently giving it a very black eye. The Lighthouse Presbyterian Church has left the PCUSA and we are seeking to affiliate with the New Wineskins Presbytery of the Evangelicial Presbyterian Church. The EPC upholds Biblical Truth, is staunchly against abortion, and does not allow the ordination of unrepentant homosexuals. "
man of god's word wrote on Nov 29, 2007 1:37 PM:
" I dont understand why Pastor kirk would want to start another church under the denomination of the presbyterian church
when even the bylaws of the prebtterian church usa state they condone abortion and same sex marriage etc, etc! Why not just leave the denomination and start a Christian church named whatever they/he please. "
Robert Burdge wrote on Nov 22, 2007 9:23 PM:
" George,
The Session of our Church had legal representation, and we consulted with attorneys involved with other New Wineskins Churchs that had experience with legal battles with the PCUSA over property. We had the papers already prepared to serve in court to secure our property and force the Presbytery to court.
In the end, after much prayer and soul-searching by our elders, we decided that the spectacle of Christians fighting over property in civil court would not be a good witness in our community. We believed, and still believe, that we had a legal and moral right to the property. But, we had to decide if a protracted court battle was the best use of use of our time and money. Our Church building is just that - a building. We can build another one, one better suited to our ministry of community outreach.
As our Pastor counseled us, "why not rather be wronged, than have the name of Jesus defamed". "
George Hill wrote on Nov 21, 2007 8:04 AM:
" My congregation secured legal representation before leaving the PCUSA. We have been successful in leaving the PCUSA with our property.
I would like to emphasize the great importance of securing legal assistance and getting the help of the civil courts when dealing with the PCUSA.
I think that the Paola congregation did not do this and they are now in great difficulty. "
Bob wrote on Nov 20, 2007 4:57 AM:
" The PCUSA is no longer a Christian denomination. It is apostate and hold to heretical teachings. The singular sacrifice of our Lord Jesus, and his atonement for our sins is no longer at the center of their "theology". They regularly sue congregations wanting to continue to worship the Lord. The PCUSA no longer believes in the inerrancy of the Bible nor the Trinity. God's speed to the members of the new Lighthouse congregation. Our prayers are with our Christian brothers as they begin their exodus from the oppressive, socialist anti-Christian regime that the PCUSA has become. We will be praying for your success in forwarding the Kingdom message! "
John W. West wrote on Nov 19, 2007 8:50 PM:
" Praise God for the extreme success of the first service of this new work last Sunday. My humble prayer is that the Heartland Pres. will see the error and gross wrong they have committed against this great group of people, against Kirk, and the rest of the staff and withdraw from the decision against the work of the Lord in this community. Kirk has made a wise and just decision by humbling himself to allow the Lord to work a magnificent work. "
Robert Burdge wrote on Nov 17, 2007 9:39 AM:
" "Several other PC (USA) congregations across the country have cited the same deterioration of values as the reasoning behind their interest in realigning ...". This statement doesn't give a proper perspective of the situation. In the last several years nearly 50 congregations, with a membership of close to 25,000 members, have decided to leave the PCUSA because of its deteriorating values. These numbers only include those congregations who have voted to leave as a body, and does not include individual members that have chosen to leave on their own. The PCUSA has lost almost 2 million members during the last 30 years, or about half of its membership. I believe this loss of membership, which is accelerating, is because the PCUSA has not held fast to the essentials of the Christian faith. "