Carson City’s First Presbyterian votes to join ECO: A covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians

First Presbyterian Church members in Carson City voted Sunday to leave Presbyterian Church USA and affiliate instead with ECO: A covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians.

Charlene Rodman, church administrator, said Monday the decision was made with about 90 percent of those voting in favor of the change. The Rev. Bruce Kochsmeier, the congregation’s senior pastor who previously said the probable change was designed to continue supporting Biblical authority, cast the new affiliation in a positive light Monday.

“Our biggest hope is that this will be inclusive for everyone,” he said, as well as “a step toward greater inclusivity.”

Before the vote, he explained earlier, the decision to consider change came in the aftermath of Presbyterian Church USA easing its outlook on gay clergy and marriage. He said then that there is nothing in the local congregation’s anticipated decision that should be viewed as homophobic, but it relates to essential tenets and Biblical authority rather than taking direction from the culture in general.

The Nevada Presbytery previously had released the local church, and Rodman said Monday the alteration is in the offing with just paperwork details yet to be handled. She said the church, which Pastor Kochsmeier earlier said had 330 members, would still be known as First Presbyterian in Carson City.