Salinas First Presbyterian Church has new name, affiliation.

In face of the great cultural shift seen in the past decade, many churches that anchored the more conservative elements of society have liberalized their stances. And that’s caused many adherents dismay as churches leave behind a fundamentalist and literal interpretation of the Bible.

One of the largest and most conservative churches in Monterey County has chosen to go the other route, and become more conservative than before. First Presbyterian Church of Salinas changed its name Oct. 25 to Compass Church. The name change is meant to reflect the church’s split with the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA) over the refusal to take a literal interpretation of the Bible.

“Why did we leave?” Pastor Mike Ladra asked his congregation in announcing the name change. “Because our denomination left original Christianity and we’re sticking with Jesus.”

Compass Church voted to split with the PCUSA in April 2014, with the congregation voting 892-8 in favor of severing ties. Around the same time, Presbyterian churches in Carmel and Morgan Hill split with the national body. All three joined what’s called ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians formed in 2012 as a theologically conservative offshoot. ECO now has 231 churches nationwide; the majority broke ties with PCUSA.

The split coincides with the 2011 decision by the PCUSA, which said it would not prohibit the ordination of gay and lesbian clergy, but allow local Presbyteries to decide for themselves. “It was at that time that multiple churches, the more conservative churches, decided to leave,” says Pastor Max Lynn of St. John’s Presbyterian Church in Berkeley.

Compass Church has two buildings for worship, one at 830 Padre Drive and the other built a decade ago to accommodate 1,500 people at 1044 S. Main Street. While the most recent value of the properties from the County Assessor’s office is just over $12 million, Ladra claims the combined value is more than $25 million.

The name on the property deeds is First Presbyterian Church of Salinas, but the property was held in trust with PCUSA. Last year the two negotiated a settlement where the Salinas church would pay roughly $800,000 to the national body over the next 10 years, on the condition that if the church left ECO and didn’t join another reformed denomination in the next 10 years, the property would revert back to the PCUSA.

Compass Church and ECO have been careful not to say the split is over same-sex marriage or the ordination of LGBQT clergy, but over theological issues and bureaucracy.

When asked directly about LGBTQ issues, Ladra says, “No, those aren’t the issues. The fundamental issues are the denial of Christ as savior and the Bible as the word of God.”

But Lynn believes same-sex marriage was part of the reason for the departure: “I think they’re dishonest about the wording that they’re using,” he says.

When asked if Compass would be open to LGBTQ clergy, Ladra doesn’t answer. But he says his congregation is open to same-sex couples: “We would welcome anybody, they won’t be judged by us.”