Two Presbyterian congregations vote to break away

Clovis churches cite gay issues
By Ron Orozco / The Fresno Bee
11/02/08

Two of the Valley's largest Presbyterian congregations said they want out of the nation's largest Presbyterian denomination.

After services ended Sunday, First Presbyterian in downtown Fresno and Trinity Presbyterian in Clovis both voted to leave Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) over differences mainly about the authority of Scripture and the possibility of gay leadership in the church.

In voting to leave, the churches are asking their local governing body, the Visalia-based Presbytery of San Joaquin, to transfer their congregations to the more conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church, based in Livonia, Mich.

The votes were overwhelming: 543-10 at First Presbyterian; 264-7 at Trinity Presbyterian. the rest