Most Fremont Presbyterian church members thought the turmoil in their congregation would end after they voted 427-164 to leave the national denomination in October.

Now that vote – and the future of the church – is being challenged.

Local Presbyterian leaders have called for an investigation of Fremont to determine if there is a schism, or significant opposition to the vote, within the church. Members voted to leave the Presbyterian Church USA to join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

If Sacramento-area Presbyterian leaders find there is a schism at Fremont, they would also decide which faction is entitled to the valuable church property.

This is the first time Presbytery leaders have asked local pastors to investigate a Sacramento-area church for a schism.

A vote on establishing the investigating committee will be held Jan. 9.

"There are a significant number of people at Fremont who did not want to leave the denomination," said Jay Wilkins, transitional presbyter of the Sacramento presbytery. "Before we move forward, we have to find out who the true church is."

The announcement by the presbytery has shocked Fremont church leaders, who said they followed Presbyterian guidelines on leaving the denomination.

They contend that presbytery leaders are changing the rules to keep the church and its 5 acres across the street from California State University, Sacramento.

Five other Sacramento-area congregations that left the denomination were not investigated.

"Our presbytery has decided to abandon its own guidelines, and came up with new ones for Fremont," said the Rev. Donald Baird, senior pastor. "It's obvious who the true church is – the vast majority who voted to leave."

Wilkins said the rules have not changed.

"What has changed is that there is a faithful remnant in the Fremont Church that really does want to stay," he said. He said that wasn't an issue at the other congregations who left the denomination because more than "90 percent" of their members wanted to leave.

Fremont Presbyterian, the 129-year-old landmark church, became the largest and most high-profile congregation in the region to leave the PCUSA and join the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, which church members said reflects more traditional beliefs.

Church leaders said they believe the PCUSA was not adhering to Biblical teachings. The local congregation reached the decision after the national body approved the ordination of openly gay clergy.

The church held emotional and sometimes tearful town hall meetings before the vote. Afterward, Baird said, Fremont leaders were prepared to meet with presbytery leaders to negotiate property issues. Instead, he was told church leaders wanted to establish an administrative commission to investigate the church.

"I couldn't believe it. It's a slick sideways move," Baird said. "We followed all the rules."

Wilkins said the administrative commission will first interview church members to determine if there is a schism or significant opposition to the vote. If there is a schism, the commission will then decide if a reconciliation can be made. If that is not possible, the commission will conclude who has control over the property.

"According to our constitution, a majority vote does not determine who the true church is," Wilkins said.

The administrative commission will decide, said Wilkins. He said he does not know how long the investigation into Fremont will take.

Baird said an administrative commission is meant to help a church in conflict.

"Fremont is not in conflict," he said. "We decided to leave."

Barbara Farley has been a member of Fremont for 36 years and is part of a group calling itself "The Fremont Faithful," who want to stay in the PCUSA.

"Technically, Fremont has been part of PCUSA for all of its existence. The church does not belong to any individual; it belongs to all of us historically," Farley said.

She said Fremont members didn't call for the administrative commission.

"The presbytery did, in response to what they were hearing," she said.

Carol Skinner is a church elder and a 14-year church member. She is concerned about the presbytery's call for an administrative commission.

"They believe Fremont is in schism. I don't believe we are, at least majority-wise. What church doesn't have disagreements?"

She said if there is a commission, she hopes the decision is fair and equitable.

"But if it's a way of getting around negotiating … that doesn't seem healthy to me."

Baird said he hopes local church leaders reject the presbytery's request for an administrative commission. If they do establish one, he said, they should take into account how the majority of Fremont members voted.

"If they rule that the 164 members are the true church, then they can dismiss pastors, take over property and have it all their way."

One thing both sides agree on is that one of the core issues is church property.

"You bet it is," said Donna Cavness, a 25-year church member. "This is about what the church will look like and who gets the property for the next generation."

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