Two churches leaving with properties, presbytery to get cash gifts; ownership lawsuits to be settled
By Patrick Jean Staff Writer
The Layman Online
Wednesday , December 12, 2007

Two of the largest churches in Sacramento Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will leave the denomination with their properties for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church on Jan. 1, now that their dismissal requests have been approved.

About the parties Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church was chartered in 1952, but has roots dating back to 1903.First Presbyterian Church in Roseville was founded in 1873.Sacramento Presbytery has 43 congregations totaling more than 15,000 members. Presbytery commissioners agreed at their stated meeting Dec. 4 to dismiss Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church in Fair Oaks, Calif., the presbytery's largest with 2,286 members, and First Presbyterian Church in Roseville, Calif., the presbytery's third-largest with 1,143 members. The vote totals were 146-18 for the Fair Oaks Church's dismissal, said Bill Cole, an elder and spokesman for that church, and 153-11 for the Roseville church's dismissal, said the Rev. Dr. Jim Barstow, senior pastor of that church.

In exchange for being dismissed with its property, each church will make an "irrevocable gift" of cash to the presbytery. Fair Oaks Church must pay either $250,000 by Jan. 31, 2017, or a "discounted early payment option" totaling $180,000 by June 30, 2008. The Roseville church must pay $160,000 by Jan. 31, 2015. the rest