"With sadness and regret," an administrative commission of Washington Presbytery has recommended that Peters Creek Presbyterian Church be dismissed from the Presbyterian Church (USA) to join the more theologically conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

The date has not been set for the special meeting to vote on that recommendation.

But Tuesday night at Thomas Presbyterian Church in Eighty Four, the presbytery created two new administrative commissions for Peters Creek, which voted 273-86 on Sunday to change denominations. One will negotiate all legal matters, including how much property the departing congregation can keep. The other will arrange pastoral care of the minority who want to stay in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

At the same meeting, the presbytery learned that its attempt to enforce certain moral standards for clergy had been struck down by a regional church court.

The presbytery then authorized its representatives to appeal to the national court, if they believed "an appeal "furthers the interests of our presbytery."

In March the presbytery passed two resolutions. Resolution A declared that the denomination's ordination standards - which include a requirement of chastity in singleness and fidelity in heterosexual marriage -- would be "essential" in Washington Presbytery. The other listed 16 "biblical standards for Christian leaders within Washington Presbytery."

Two congregations and a dozen pastors challenged the resolutions. The church court struck them down on both theological and procedural grounds. It said that "essential" teachings are not "mandatory" and, when applied to candidates for ministry, must be considered on a case-by-case basis. It also said that the Washington statute was impossibly broad.

The court said the "Biblical Standards for Christian Leadership" cannot be used as church law because they are not part of the denomination's constitution.

The presbytery council recommended against appealing the ruling. But the commissioners voted 42-24 to appeal if the committee dealing with the case thought it would "further the interests of the presbytery."

There were strong objections from pastors who had brought the case.

"This continues us on a path we have been following where someone brings a statement and we take sides. We are doing it by the numbers, rather than by discussing these things together to come up with a consensus," said the Rev. Susan Vande Kappelle of Fourth Presbyterian Church, Washington.

The Rev. David Bleivik, executive presbyter, endorsed the appeal. " I am unapologetic in seeking to stand for biblical standards," he said.