TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A south-central Tulsa congregation that left the Presbyterian Church USA two years ago will pay the denomination $1.75 million as part of a settlement of a court case.

In return, Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church will retain ownership of the property on which the church building sits. Members of the congregation voted Sunday to settle the lawsuit it filed against the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery.

On Sept. 9, a Tulsa County District Court judge had ruled that the Presbyterian Church USA’s denominational constitution made the presbytery, not the church, the rightful owner of the property.

“We are happy to move forward with our property and support our congregation’s decision,” said Wayne Hardy, a co-pastor at Kirk of the Hills, which has about 2,000 members.

Negotiations leading to the settlement started in earnest after the judge’s ruling last month, said Greg Coulter, the general presbyter of the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery. The settlement transaction is expected to be completed by mid-November.

“I’m to some degree relieved, but I’m also greatly saddened,” Coulter said. “This is the loss of a Presbyterian congregation. They believe that they can better serve Christ in another denomination, and I respect that decision.”

In 2006, Kirk of the Hills members voted to withdraw from the Presbyterian Church USA and affiliate with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. The church sued, seeking to retain control of its building and land.

Kirk of the Hills is one of the largest and most prominent churches to leave the Presbyterian Church USA over biblical issues. Two months before the congregation withdrew its membership, the denomination’s general assembly had granted congregations more leeway in determining who is ordained.

Conservative clergy members protested, saying the decision would allow for the ordination of gay clergy members.