One of the Presbyterian Church in America’s largest congregations voted on Sunday, December 14, to withdraw from the denomination. Saint Andrew’s Chapel, outside of Orlando, informed Central Florida Presbytery that it has voted to no longer affiliate with the PCA. The vote was 669 in favor of leaving and 108 opposed. In a letter, the clerk of session informed the presbytery that the church voted “to dissolve its ecclesiastical connection with the Central Florida Presbytery, effective upon receipt of this notice.”
As previously reported, the church held a congregational meeting in July “to consider its affiliation with the PCA. Instead of voting to remain or withdraw, the congregation referred the matter to the session to evaluate the situation and return with a recommendation.” At the time, it was believed that the session would report and bring a recommendation at the congregation’s annual meeting in January.
Founded by R.C. Sproul in 1997, the church existed as an independent Reformed congregation, though many of its ministers were under the oversight of Central Florida Presbytery. The church voted to join the PCA in 2023.
The elders of Saint Andrew’s Chapel provided the following statement to byFaith regarding the congregation’s decision to withdraw:
On December 14, 2025, Saint Andrew’s Chapel held a congregational meeting in accordance with BCO 25-2 and 25-11 to decide whether to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). After the Session provided an update and recommendation, the congregation voted by paper ballot to withdraw, with 669 in favor and 108 against. As a result, Saint Andrew’s Chapel is no longer affiliated with the PCA, and the Central Florida Presbytery has been duly informed. We gratefully acknowledge the support from many within the PCA and value the faithful members of the denomination who have contributed to our shared commitment to Reformed theology. We recognize the range of emotions during this significant transition and remain committed to shepherding with care, maintaining the peace and purity of the Church, and proclaiming the Gospel. We trust Jesus Christ, as King and Head of the church, to guide, lead, and protect His flock as we live each day coram Deo.
At time of publication, at least four ministers at Saint Andrew’s Chapel are members of Central Florida Presbytery. The presbytery has not received any requests from the ministers to have their membership transferred elsewhere.
The presbytery has a standing rule that it “will only approve calls for existing Teaching Elders or ordain new Teaching Elders to serve in CFP PCA churches. This policy does not impact our current practice of ordaining men to serve out-of-bounds in non-ecclesiastical ministries within our Presbytery that meet the requirements and fulfill the conditions set forth in BCO 8-7;21-1.” It is unclear how this rule will effect the ministers currently serving at Saint Andrew’s.
The PCA’s Book of Church Order contains a provision in 25-11 for congregations wishing to withdraw:
Particular churches need remain in association with any court of this body only so long as they themselves so desire. The relationship is voluntary, based upon mutual love and confidence, and is in no sense to be maintained by the exercise of any force or coercion whatsoever. A particular church may withdraw from any court of this body at any time for reasons which seem to it sufficient, provided, however, the congregation is given at least thirty-days’ notice of any meeting where the congregation is to vote on a proposed withdrawal from the Presbyterian Church in America.
In June, a Central Florida Presbytery judicial commission found Burk Parsons, the current senior pastor at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, guilty on three charges and indefinitely suspended him from his role as a PCA teaching elder. He is currently appealing the judgment.