Puerto Rico church exits denomination because of homosexuality policy
A Presbyterian church in Puerto Rico in the Santa Rosa Community has resigned from the Presbyterian Church of United States of America (PCUSA) on Sunday,…
Puerto Rican churches are breaking off from the PCUSA over these crucial issues. (Shutterstock)
A Presbyterian church in Puerto Rico in the Santa Rosa Community has resigned from the Presbyterian Church of United States of America (PCUSA) on Sunday, February 8th.
The congregation of Primera Iglesia Presbiteriana en Bayamón (First Presbyterian Church in Bayamón) has declared itself an independent Reformed Presbyterian congregation, under the name Iglesia Presbiteriana Westminster (Westminster Presbyterian Church), seeking to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC)
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This was in full obedience to biblical authority.
Over 250 individuals came together in opposition of the Commission for Evaluation, Education and Resolution of the Presbytery of San Juan. The Bayamón congregation communicated their opposition to the position assumed by the PCUSA regarding: 1) the authority of the Holy Scriptures, 2) the centrality of the work of Christ, 3) abortion, 4) same-sex marriage and 5) the ordination of homosexuals, among other topics.
Homosexuals have always run into road blocks when it comes to conservative religions. (Shutterstock)
Because of this, they requested to transfer their membership to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) denomination in the United States.
Pastor Juan Ramón Rivera Medina, the spokesman for the congregation, said that all prayer and worship services, community work, will continue as they usually do, operating under the newly-created Iglesia Presbiteriana Westminster, whose headquarters are now in the facilities of American School, located on Hermanas Dávilas Urbanization, 9th Street, C-1, in Bayamón.
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The church disagreed on topics such as same-sex marriage and the ordination of homosexuals. (Shutterstock)
When Pastor Rivera Medina was asked about the sudden departure, he said that about two weeks ago, the Presbytery of San Juan presented a resolution to remove Pastor Emeritus Juan Pérez Alda, who pastored the church for over 30 years, from all ties to the congregation and its voluntary services.
“In light of this oppressive situation, the Session, myself, and the congregation have decided to obey the Word of the Lord. We did not want to submit to the theologically liberal policies of our former denomination, and as faithful believers in the Word, we decided to leave behind all material possessions and carry firmly onward,” concluded Rivera Medina.
