FPC Tacoma Dismissal Process Resource Page   What Is Happening?   After a multi-month process of discernment, FPC Tacoma has decided to seek dismissal from the Presbyterian Church USA in order to join the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians.   UPDATE: FPC has negotiated a draft dismissal agreement from the PCUSA. Come learn about the terms of the agreement at the Congregational Gathering on Wednesday, April 11, @ 7:00 pm in the Main Sanctuary. After the terms of the agreement are presented, there will be a time for questions and comments, and then a private ballot advisory vote will be taken.   Questions? If you have any questions about what is happening or would like more information, you are encouraged to talk with elders John West (jwest@fpctacoma.com) or with Pastor Eric or Pastor Becci.   Background and Timeline of Decision to Leave After seeking input from the congregation at a Congregational Gathering on June 8, 2011, the Session (Board of Elders) at FPC  decided to enter into a formal process of discernment as to whether FPC should leave the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).  Following procedures adopted by our Olympia Presbytery in its document "Discerning God's Leading Together," a Discernment Team was formed with two members (John West and Hugh Milloy) appointed by our Session, and two members (Irene Van Arnam and Rev. Ken Sikes) appointed by the Olympia Presbytery. This Discernment Team developed a process of discernment that included four congregational forums in September 2012 culminating in a congregational advisory vote, a Session retreat, and study materials made available on this website and in the church library.   In an advisory vote of the congregation on Sept. 28, 2011, more than 89% of those voting favored requesting an Administrative Commission to negotiate dismissal from the PCUSA to another Reformed denomination.(Around 5% favored remaining within the PCUSA, while 6% were undecided.) Following this congregational advisory vote, the Session (Board of Elders) at FPC Tacoma formally requested that an Administrative Commission be appointed by the Olympia Presbytery to negotiate dismissal. The Presbytery appointed the Administrative Commission at its meeting in November 2011.     On Feb. 1, 2012, FPC held a congregational gathering to receive input on which of two denominations we should seek to affiliate with if we are dismissed from the PCUSA. After that meeting, the FPC Session voted to identify the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians as the denomination to which we will seek dismissal. FPC is presently negotiating a draft dismissal agreement with the Administrative Commission appointed by Olympia Presbytery.   Documents and Resources Why We Decided to Seek Dismissal Information on why we are seeking dismissal from the PCUSA can be found in "Five Reasons to Consider Leaving the PCUSA" as well as the following articles:   1. The Five Solas of the Reformed Faith vs. the PCUSA 2. Diversity is the Problem, Not the Solution 3. Leaving the PCUSA 4. Broken Covenant: Signs of a Shattered Communion 5. Reasons for Change: Christology–Our Belief about Jesus 6. Response to the Vote to Allow Homosexual Ordination 7. An Open Letter to PCUSA Evangelicals 8. Reflections on what's ahead for the PCUSA 9. Parting Thoughts on the PCUSA 10. Who Said that the PCUSA Was Deathly Ill?   Further Information about Discernment Process Further information about the discernment process we went through can be found in the following articles:   Outline of FPC Discernment Process Discerning God's Leading Together  Message from Pastor Eric about Advisory Vote Message from Pastor Eric about Session Vote Final Report of Discernment Team to Presbytery   Information about the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians   General information Statement of Theology Statement of Polity

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