I thought Session made the action directly to the Presbytery to dismiss the Church to another Reformed body.  Wby seek a vote of the congregation?
Session's can close Church's with a like vote of Presbytery. Why needlessly count noses of who is staying and who is going?  I am a true blue Presbyterian and all this saddens me but here we are.  I was ordained by this (Indian Nations)Presbytery when it was a Union Presbytery. I hail from First Presby, Okla City but the idea that counting people for and against the Session does not make for peace.  It seems to me that people follow their pastor for good or for ill.  Why not follow the rule of the Session and THEN seek how to keep Churches who want to share in mission.  The Fellowship of Presbyterians offers a middle way between uniformity and divorce in the current dismissal process.  The Presbytery of Seattle (my current Presbytery)is seeking to continue a missional relationship with Churches who seek dismissal to ECO or EPC.  I think hanging together doing Christ's business is way more important than worrying about buildings and other assets.  The most important asset we have is each other, so let's try to stay in relationship regardless of the Reformed body we belong to.

William  Mason

Kirkland, WA