Fort Collins church seeks dismissal from gay-tolerant Presbyterian church

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Citing “irreconcilable spiritual differences,” a Fort Collins church is seeking dismissal from the Presbyterian Church, which gave its churches the right to ordain gay leaders last year.

The Coloradoan is reporting that the church elders at First Presbyterian Church, which houses a congregation of about 1,000, are the ones pushing for the move.

In a letter on the church’s website, the church’s governing body, otherwise known as the Session, said the Presbyterian church’s decision to allow the ordaining of gay and lesbian leaders “puts us in the impossible position of supporting policies in direct conflict with the teachings of Scripture.”

Dale Preston told the Coloradoan that he is among a growing faction of church members who don’t agree with the Session and hope the congregation remains a part of the Presbyterian church.

“We think that the Presbyterian church has a long history of being unified and being very respectful of diverse opinions in both lifestyle, race and culture,” Preston said. “The actions of the Presbyterian church to open up ordination to gays and lesbians is just an example of us living out that diverse promise.”

The dissenting bunch is important because the congregation has to take an advisory vote on leaving before any such move can be made. Presbyter of the Presbytery of Plains and Peaks Dan Saperstein will make the final call on whether or not the dismissal occurs.

The Coloradoan reports that a final decision could be expected within a year.

The Presbyterian Church banned the ordaining of gay and lesbian leaders in 1978. That ban was lifted in 2011.