Chapel Hill Presbyterian Church in Gig Harbor voted today to leave the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) primarily because the denomination changed its constitution to allow non-celibate gays to be ordained as clergy and lay leaders.

With 1,660 members, Chapel Hill Presbyterian is one of the largest mainline Protestant churches in the South Sound region.

The Rev. Mark Toone, senior pastor of Chapel Hill, said his congregation reached a “tipping point” last spring when a majority of regional governing bodies, called presbyteries, voted to change the church’s constitution to permit gays and lesbians to be ordained.

“For 30 years, we have battled over the same theological turf,” Toone told 1,200 parishioners before today’s vote. While it’s painful to leave the denomination, Toone said, “it would be more painful to remain.”

Sumner Presbyterian Church also voted Sunday to depart. Two other South Sound Presbyterian congregations, First Presbyterian of Tacoma and Evergreen Presbyterian in Graham, also decided recently to leave the denomination.

Chapel Hill members voted by written ballot whether to leave and join the smaller Evangelical Presbyterian Church. About 92 percent of the members who cast ballots voted to do so.

After dropping their ballots into purple bins after a congregational meeting, several members said they voted to leave in response to the ordination of gays and lesbians and other issues of disagreement.

“The church is being influenced by culture,” said Deanna Nilsen. “There has to come a point when we stand on the word of God.”

“It’s a mixed feeling,” said Tiersa Chaffin. “It’s bittersweet. It’s hard to separate.”

Chapel Hill prepared for the vote for seven months, studying issues and working with its regional body, the Presbytery of Olympia.

“It’s been a long process,” said Margie Doerksen. “It’s sort of a relief today to take this first step.”

Doerksen said Chapel Hill welcomes gays and lesbians into the congregation.
“We choose not to have them in leadership because we feel that’s scripturally correct,” Doerksen said.

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The Sumner-based Vadis is holding its annual auction fundraiser Saturday at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup.

Doors open at 5 p.m.

The theme is Treasure Quest: A Kentucky Derby Affair. Tickets are $45 and are available on the group’s website.

Vadis provides employment support for people with disabilities.

Futurewise and Friends of Pierce County are holding a public meeting Thursday night to talk about Sumner’s proposal to designate more than 180 acres as urban growth area.

The groups object to the proposal, which was narrowly rejected by the Pierce County Planning Commission earlier this summer.

The County Council has the final say.

The city wants to designate 182 acres to the south as urban growth area, paving the way for a mixed-use development anchored by a YMCA. Proponents say the area, known as Orton Junction, is appropriate for urban growth, and that development there would bring needed …

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The Pierce County Planning Commission has again put off deciding on a controversial proposal that would pave the way for a mixed-use development in Sumner anchored by a YMCA.

After close to four hours of discussion and public testimony Wednesday night, commission members voted to hold off on making a recommendation to the County Council until their July 26 meeting.

It’s a complicated issue and a big decision, members said.

“I’d feel much more comfortable deferring the final decision until our next meeting,” said Malcolm Russell, commission chairman.

The County Council has the final say on the proposal, however if the commission recommends …

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The Pierce County Planning Commission decided last night that it wants more time to consider a proposal that would pave the way for a mixed-used development in Sumner anchored by a YMCA.

It’s now slated to make its recommendation to the County Council in July, said senior planner Dan Cardwell.

The proposal calls for expanding the city’s urban growth area by 182 acres to the south. The Sumner-based Investco Financial Corp. owns most of the property there, and its chief executive officer has listed shops and medical and higher education facilities as possible tenants.

He’s also offered space …

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An alley between two businesses in downtown Sumner will be transformed into a community gathering space that could include public art, tables and benches.

The Issaquah-based Pomegranate Center, a nonprofit focused on community design and development, will lead the work, which is slated to be done by early fall.

Tully’s Coffee gave the center a grant to help with the Sumner project, as well as similar efforts in Wedgwood, Kirkland and Mercer Island. The amount of the grant wasn’t immediately available.

The project won’t cost Sumner any money, although residents of the East Pierce city are expected to contribute …

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The Sumner City Council has picked its new member.

Jon Swanson, who’s currently on the city Planning Commission, was selected Monday from a pool of seven applicants to fill Matt Richardson’s vacant seat.

The 73-year-old, who owns a vending machine company and spent three decades in the auto business, said he plans to run for a full four-year term in the fall.

“I have an interest in the community,” he said. “If I can make an impact with my business background, I’d like to serve the community in that respect.”

The council was split between him and another candidate, Mark …

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The City of Sumner plans to have a new City Council member in place by April 18.

Applications to fill Matt Richardson’s seat are available on the city’s website.

They’re due April 8, with candidate interviews planned for April 11.

The person selected by the council will fill the seat through the November general election. The winner of that election then will be sworn-in.

Last week, Richardson was essentially removed from office by his fellow council members. They voted 4-1 not to excuse his absence from three consecutive council meetings.

Under state law, a council seat becomes vacant …

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