Frustrated by the failure of the Presbytery of the Alleghenies and the General Assembly to vote on an overture forbidding the ordination of homosexuals, a church in Mansfield, Ohio, voted in November to leave the EPC.
“The main reason why we left is because of the hierarchical leadership and the disregard for polity, policy, and procedure,” said Joseph Yerger, pastor of Mansfield 1st Presbyterian Church. “When disregard is shown for the constitution, then disregard for Scripture is not far behind.”
Mansfield was one of two churches in the Presbytery of the Alleghenies that presented a motion in February 2024 to concur with an overture from New River Presbytery (NRP). That overture would have amended the Constitution to forbid men and women who identify as homosexual from holding office in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
However, instead of voting on that motion, the Presbytery approved a substitute motion that called for study and review of the EPC positions and policies regarding homosexuality. It further requested the General Assembly to develop any proposed recommended changes regarding the issue of same-sex attraction.
Yerger voiced his opposition to the substitute motion, claiming it violated Robert’s Rules of Order because it did not address the real question of the main motion. According to Yerger, the Presbytery Stated Clerk disagreed, and after his appeal the ruling of the Chair was sustained by the Presbytery.
Although the EPC forbids the ordination of practicing homosexuals, the denomination is currently studying the issue of whether pastors who self-identify as homosexual but claim to be celibate can be ordained in the EPC. The issue sparked controversy at General Assembly, where the NRP overture was blocked from coming to a vote.
The controversy began when Greg Johnson, Pastor of Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, requested permission to join the EPC. Johnson identifies as a “Side B” Christian, meaning that he is a homosexual yet practices celibacy. In his book Still Time to Care, Johnson defends homosexuality as his God-given identity. He further claims that is impossible for a gay person to change their same-sex attraction, and that efforts to do so result in shame and dishonesty.
According to Yerger, it is not the homosexual issue that ultimately led his church to leave the denomination, but the sense of being disenfranchised.
“If our motion had been brought to the floor and voted down, then we would probably still be in the Presbytery and the EPC,” said Yerger. “Both the Presbytery and the General Assembly have worked to silence and prevent legitimate debate concerning a grave issue of sin and personal holiness. That, for us, was the breaking point. Side B homosexuality and the potential admission of Greg Johnson was simply the symptom which brought a greater concern to light.”
The Mansfield church consists of about 70 members and is located roughly halfway between Columbus and Cleveland. The congregation voted November 10 to leave the EPC, with 90 percent of the congregation’s membership voting in favor. The Presbytery of the Alleghenies did not contest its exit.
The departure was announced at the Presbytery’s September Stated Meeting without comment, explanation, or apparent expression of concern.
“The lack of comment really bothered me,” said Yerger. “There was not even a question from the floor asking why we left. That was not a very pastoral response from my fellow Elders.”
Yerger and his congregation are currently seeking to unite with the Presbyterian Church in America.
The Plumb Line attempted to contact the Stated Clerk and a former Moderator of the Presbytery of the Alleghenies but they declined to comment.
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