I read with some interest the “Editor’s outlook” for March 23, 2009, where the editor gave congratulations, indeed, a “shout out” to the good folks of Wabash Presbytery for its gracious dismissal of three congregations to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, for a mere 975,000 greenback exit fee.

I guess the graciousness to which he referred was the apparent lack of crosses and Romans (civil courts in modern parlance?). Do these fees harm those congregations’ continuing ministry to address the Great Ends of the Church?

I am sorry that the newest upper judicatory fundraising technique seems to be the exit fee exacted from congregations who, for serious theological reasons, seek another Reformed landing spot. I agree with the editor; our dissenting sisters and brothers may have traded one (or several) theological contention(s) for another. Will the grass be greener there in three years or five? But, as our editor says, would they truly be welcomed back?

A firm good riddance in the form of an exorbitant exit fee has provided added momentum to the exodus of congregations. One might ask if the money would be returned (with interest?) should a congregation reunite. Even if a departed congregation later sought refuge from the EPC, the grass of a greedy, “gracious” presbytery will look pretty seedy in its eyes. It probably would function as a “Please Do Not Step in the Grass” sign, even if our lawn looked inviting.

Presbyteries incur substantial legitimate financial costs in this process. Why not simply pass those costs to the congregation and dismiss it to the EPC or wherever with their blessing? Anything more is a punitive charge, which neither promotes peace, purity, and unity within or without our denomination, and for which there is no mandate in the Book of Order. The irony of all this is that the charge is not a deterrent to other moderate congregations (the conservatives left a long time ago.). In the present climate, moderate congregations experience this as a club being wielded at them, and that theological diversity has about the same functional message within presbyteries as political moderates have experienced in the Democratic Party. Presbyteries are telling congregations how truly sad — Not! — they are as they collect their exit fees and dilute further the Reformed voices in their midst. This is not good pastoral theology.

Accurately implied in the editorial is a frustrating truth: there is no good home for moderate Presbyterian [Church] (U.S.A.) congregations, who for decades have struggled with our liberal stands on abortion, homosexual practice (and flirted continually with endorsing it through ordination), and occasionally questioning whether Jesus Christ is truly necessary for salvation. “Hanging in there” is more possible for some of than for others. But the $975,000 price tag is merely a down payment for our beloved churches departing, let alone for our diminishing denomination. Prodigal presbyteries, please come back to your senses and drop the fees, lest the gate in the fence you are building becomes too narrow for anyone to re-enter, and the exit needs further widening,  and our pleas to remain or come back to our pastures be delivered with a forked tongue.

Peter F. Jessen, pastor
First Church

Franklin, Ind.

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