Local Church Joins New Denomination

First Presbyterian Church of Lamar

The First Presbyterian Church of Lamar started its ministry for the people of Lamar in 1901. This past summer the church became one of a growing number of Presbyterian churches starting a new denomination, ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

The church’s pastor, Rev. Rory Gillespie, explains the change: “For the last three decades our church and others have struggled with our former denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and its increasingly liberal theology. The denomination’s idea of the qualifications for leadership and its definition of marriage are in conflict with what we see in Scripture and the historic beliefs of Presbyterians. Believing it was impossible to change the denomination’s course, several churches across the nation began the process of forming a new denomination which eventually became known as ECO.”

This past summer the Lamar church joined six other Colorado churches in leaving the PC(USA). These included the First Presbyterian Church of Colorado Springs, the First Presbyterian Church of La Junta, the First Presbyterian Church of Monte Vista, the Kirkwood Memorial Presbyterian Church of Penrose, and the United Presbyterian Church of Cañon City. These Colorado churches joined a number of churches from central Florida in forming the new denomination. During the last few months churches from California, Texas, Washington, Idaho, South Carolina, and New Jersey have joined as well.

Gillespie said, “We truly believe that this is a movement of God. We believe that by becoming an ECO congregation, we will be better equipped and better able to minister to the people of Lamar and the surrounding area.”

The First Presbyterian Church of Lamar, CO is located at 1110 S. 6th St. Sunday school begins at 9:00 a.m., with worship beginning at 10:30 a.m. For more information, call the church office at 336-5072.

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Furnished Press Release