In an historic gathering, the congregation of Bay Presbyterian Church overwhelmingly voted to request that the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Presbytery of the Western Reserve dismiss it to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's New Wineskins Presbytery. BPC members cast their votes during the congregational meeting and worship services held Sunday, November 18.  

Of 1309 ballots officially cast, 1196 votes, or 91.4%, of those registered to vote, were cast for dismissal and 113 votes, or 8.6%, were cast against dismissal. A total of 63% of the total membership of BPC registered to vote. The Presbytery of the Western Reserve recommended a quorum of 66 2/3 percent of the membership and a super majority vote of 75 percent for approval of the proposal.  The results of the vote were announced later in the day at a special service jointly led by the pastors of BPC and the leadership of the Presbytery of the Western Reserve.

What does this mean?

The congregation of Bay Presbyterian Church has overwhelmingly voted to request that the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Presbytery of the Western Reserve dismiss it to the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's New Wineskins Presbytery.  While the total votes cast is 70 votes short of the total The Presbytery recommended as a quorum, the 1196 votes for dismissal exceeded by 160 the "super majority" that was also recommended by the Presbytery.

This is the clear expression of the congregation's desire that was sought by both the Session and the Presbytery, and clears the way for the next steps in the process of dismissal.