PCUSA 2008 Statistics

[Scott1]

Since typically more conservative and moderate members are leaving for the EPC, I surmise the EPC might befcome the largest Presbyterian denomination in the US, wheras the PCUS will become an extremelyl iberal micro-denomination since the moderates and conservatives won't be there to dillute the hardcore liberal theologies.

You're right in that the large majority of particular churches departing are going to the EPC at present. A (very) few, though, are making their way into biblical, reformed denominations like ARP, PCA and OPC.
http://www.layman.org/Resources/Churches_Leaving_the_PCUSA.aspx

The EPC is graciously providing a generous transitional arrangement to see if these churches are fit for that denomination, or if the EPC is a fit for them.

Likely, it is refreshing to find a "safe" place where they are not having to fight for the most basic doctrines of Christianity or against a leftist political agenda.

I suspect the failure of EPC to deal with serious doctrinal issues that would define it as a confessional denomination will result in the same splits and divisions as in the past within Presbyterianism. Avoiding a clear confession and unity around that will likely result in a substantial number of these congregations will gradually migrate back home to some of the biblical reformed Presbyterian denominations- if they remain faithful.

Right now, they are coming out of a situation of having to fight for the deity of Christ, and not paying tithe money to terrorist organizations (really).

With that kind of background of fighting those kind of battles, they have not had time much to contend for a reformed theology and practice, nor define themselves to the degree of a Confession.

They have developed somewhat of a conservative culture, a more independent mode of operation, but not really a reformed faith based on things like a complete Calvinist soteriology, covenant theology, connectional polity, or church discipline based on a clear doctrinal confession.

 

[Scottish Lass]

To my knowledge, the ARP has gained two congregations from the PC(USA), both in the South.

 

[Wayne]

Right now, they are coming out of a situation of having to fight for the deity of Christ, and not paying tithe money to terrorist organizations (really).

To clairify, you are speaking here of the PC(USA) congregations, not the EPC.

 

[Scott1]

Right now, they are coming out of a situation of having to fight for the deity of Christ, and not paying tithe money to terrorist organizations (really).

To clairify, you are speaking here of the PC(USA) congregations, not the EPC.

Yes, the departing churches are coming out of the mainline PC(USA) denomination and the large majority going, at present, are going into the EPC. (They're not having such battles there, that's why it must be quite refreshing for them).

The difficulty in the longer run is that the EPC is not chartering itself as a clearly confessional church, biblical and reformed but as one failing to define key theology under a notion of "liberty" (which is just not a confessional idea, let alone a Presbyterian one).

 

[Zenas]

Excellent and insightful. I suspect that many might also go an Anglican/Episcopal route (of the conservative variety), because of particular worship styles. At least that seems to be the case around here, in my limited experience.

A lot of Presbyterian church of the USA variety are quite "high church" in the liturgical sense. Of the over 300 PC(USA) churches I am familiar with only two do not use the Revised Common Lectionary and zero do not follow the liturgical calendar.

Dead religion. All of the tradition, none of the life.