CANONSBURG, Pa.—Washington Presbytery officials went to court last week to contest a claim to church property by a western Pennsylvania congregation that voted to leave the national church.

A property dispute arose after members of the Peters Creek Presbyterian Church voted in November to leave the Presbyterian Church USA and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church based in Livonia, Mich.

Peters Creek church members say they joined the more evangelical church because it more closely follows biblical teachings on the Trinity, salvation and some social issues, including not allowing the ordination of gay clergy.

The head of the Washington Presbytery will soon leave to become pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Dearborn, Mich.