The First Presbyterian Church of Beaver has been allowed to leave the Presbyterian Church (USA) and take its property into the more theologically conservative Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

An agreement between the 700-member church and Beaver-Butler Presbytery was reached Tuesday. The congregation made a parting gift to the presbytery of $133,700 from its reserve funds, and the presbytery signed over the deed to the property. The settlement was reached through a process that the presbytery approved in 2009, when it became apparent that several congregations wanted to leave over issues including gay ordination and biblical authority.

"We praise God for his blessings and guidance through this process, and ask him to enable us to be even more faithful in ministry, service and maturity as we move forward as part of the EPC," said a statement on the congregation's Web site.

The Rev. Alan Adams, the executive presbyter, was grateful for the amicable tone of the meeting.

"It's sad to see brothers and sisters in Christ moving on, but we prayed for one another's ministry," he said.

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