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Lay Committee Acquires Papers Showing PCUSA Anticipates Major Division
By Jim Brown
September 15, 2006
(AgapePress) - The Presbyterian Church (USA) is being accused of taking "draconian" measures against local congregations that are considering leaving the denomination. The Presbyterian Lay Committee has obtained confidential strategy papers created by lawyers from the denomination's headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, advising area officials how to grab the property of local dissenting churches.
The so-called "Louisville Papers" also advise Presbyterian officials how to oust the ministers of dissenting churches and how to get rid of their governing bodies. The documents advise Presbytery officials to play hardball with these churches by filing civil actions against them, freezing their bank accounts, changing the locks on their buildings, and defrocking their ministers.
Meanwhile, the papers obtained and made public by the Committee suggest to those Presbyteries filing civil claims against dissenting parishes that they try to get an Episcopal judge rather than a Baptist judge. The reason for this, according to the strategy documents, is because Episcopalians understand church hierarchy better than do Baptists. more
By Jim Brown
September 15, 2006
(AgapePress) - The Presbyterian Church (USA) is being accused of taking "draconian" measures against local congregations that are considering leaving the denomination. The Presbyterian Lay Committee has obtained confidential strategy papers created by lawyers from the denomination's headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, advising area officials how to grab the property of local dissenting churches.
The so-called "Louisville Papers" also advise Presbyterian officials how to oust the ministers of dissenting churches and how to get rid of their governing bodies. The documents advise Presbytery officials to play hardball with these churches by filing civil actions against them, freezing their bank accounts, changing the locks on their buildings, and defrocking their ministers.
Meanwhile, the papers obtained and made public by the Committee suggest to those Presbyteries filing civil claims against dissenting parishes that they try to get an Episcopal judge rather than a Baptist judge. The reason for this, according to the strategy documents, is because Episcopalians understand church hierarchy better than do Baptists. more