Conservative group urges funding cutoff from Presbyterian headquarters

LENOIR, N.C. (AP) A conservative caucus that has long been critical of leadership in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is now asking congregations and individuals to consider halting contributions to national agencies of the church.

A ''declaration of conscience'' from the Presbyterian Lay Committee's board complained about church leaders' ''refusal to require compliance'' with the church's constitution an apparent reference to a provision barring actively gay pastors and lay officers.

More broadly, the group's leaders said ''we are two faiths within one denomination'' and ''without systemic change the PCUSA will collapse'' due to irreconcilable differences between liberals and conservatives.

Like other mainline Protestant denominations, the Presbyterian Church has suffered financial woes in recent years and could be hurt further by a financial boycott.

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