Candidates for clergy ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) denounced recent church court decisions that upheld the denomination's ban against ordaining practicing homosexuals.
In a letter released this week by the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), 28 candidates – some anonymous – protested the rulings, arguing that the decisions were demeaning to gays.
"This PJC (Permanent Judicial Commission) decision puts a wedge between theology and practice, belief and action, being and doing," they stated in the open letter. "It demeans the lives of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer persons by again reducing our lives to sexual acts. It fails to recognize God's ability to choose whomever God wills to serve the Church. It perpetuates the mythology that sexual orientation is simply a matter of behavior. It says that we are not filled with God's grace."
The PC(USA)'s highest church court ruled last month in three separate decisions that candidates for ordination must follow the sexual behavior standards of fidelity and chastity and no ordaining body has the right to ordain a candidate in violation of those constitutional standards.
Unless there is a constitutional amendment to the standard, ordaining bodies must adhere to it.
The largest Presbyterian body in the country, the PC(USA) has been wracked with confusion and debates over gay ordination since the 2006 General Assembly adopted an "authoritative interpretation" of the ordination standard. Some felt the decision gave leeway to local and regional governing bodies to ordain practicing gay ministers.
Last month's rulings upheld the denomination's fidelity and chastity requirement – fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness" – and were praised by conservatives.
"I commend the church court for making clear and final what ought to have been obvious all along: Our constitution appropriately forbids the ordination of persons unrepentantly remaining in sinful practices," said Jim Berkley, director of the Institute on Religion and Democracy's Presbyterian Action Committee. "No matter how de rigueur condoning sexual immorality becomes in society, Christians must hold to a higher standard that is unchanging."
The local rulings are believed to apply to the entire denomination.
"What we have found in these high court rulings is the Presbyterian constitution still works and it has turned out that the GA (2006 General Assembly) decision did not have the negative consequences that many people feared it would have," said Michael Walker, a Theologian-in-Residence at the prominent conservative Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas.
But the 28 signers of this week's protest letter say they fear the direct effect of the ruling "will be to once again impose upon the ordination process a don't ask, don't tell policy."
"We are a gospel people, called to proclaim the good news of how God has loved and redeemed us and freed us for joyful service," they said in the letter. "It is tremendously painful and theologically suspect that our church should find it expedient that we must edit our lives, denying our full humanity which Jesus came to fully redeem, in order to be acceptable candidates for ordination."
"We live in hope that our sisters and brothers in Christ will know us, in the fullness of how God creates us, and affirm our gifts and call," they added.
Earlier this year, Lisa Larges, a lesbian and also one of the signers of the letter, had received support from the San Francisco Presbytery when she made a third bid to join the clergy. The presbytery approved Larges' application for ministry despite warnings that the action violated the church's constitution.
Opponents of Larges joining clergy said the problem was not the fact that Larges disagrees with a feature of the church constitution but that she won't abide by it.
Larges had refused to comply with the ordination standard of chastity.
While further debate over homosexuality is expected at the upcoming PC(USA) General Assembly in June 2008, IRD's Berkley hopes Presbyterians will continue to uphold the church constitution.
"We have debated the issue for three decades and always have arrived at the same answer: We will hold fast to biblical morality," he said. "We must not play with words and twist meanings to come up with absurdities, such as 'optional standards.' We need to simply observe the obvious meaning and beneficial intent of our church constitution and use it to practice a difficult love and care, as God has instructed us to do."
Comments
Wow, who knew Oklahoma's Sally Kern posted here under the name "Blacksho89".
I want to be ordained, but I have other gods before Him. Can I be ordained?
I want to be ordained, but I make idols and bow down to them.
I take the name of the Lord my God in vain, and will not preach on Sundays.
I bad mouth my parents. There all some people I really want to kill. Can I be ordained?
You see my point. Brothers and sisters, these are not suggestions; they are commandments. GLAAD is doing the same thing to the Church that Satan did in the Garden. "Did God really say...."
We know the answer. Yes, God really did say, "Though shalt not commit adultery."
The only thing evil need do to succeed is for good men to do nothing. I am amazed at the unbiblical practices that go on in the "initutionalized" church. Christ said the gate of hell shall not prevail against His church... so I am guessing anywhere there is apostacy is a place His children don't belong. While we are to love the sin and hate the sinner, I am at a loss to explain that if SCXripture says a believer who persists in sin after being properly admonished and rebuked is to be put out (until repentant and reconciled) how is an actively gay pastor supposed to remain in the pulpit?
Very basic,...just like jar1961 said,absolute no brainer,....the first ways GLAAD is gonna be able to back door alot of this stuff in is because people want to play an AMAZING AMOUNT of "tossin` contests" of every single type,.....Anyone heard of "KISS"? very basic, I personally don`t think it was meant to be very complicated to begin with.....thanks.......
Before the BOZOS who are flagging everyone's input:
John14-6: You say "Anyone in communion with this denomination is placing their immortal soul in peril."
What kind of theology is that? These people are flaming nimrods and clearly part of the "unbelieving church". PLACING their immortal souls in peril? I'd say they're ALREADY in peril!!
But I guess MY soul is already in peril, because I don't read the King James Version: Good News for 17th Century Man. Is that correct 1_Corinthians_8_5-6_KJV?
Besides, Bozo loves the English Standard Version.
NOW you can flag me.
These clergy are apostates. They have "exchanged the truth for a lie". They are affirming as right and good what God calls detestable and abomination. It's not simply understanding homosexuality as sinful and something that one struggles with, no, in fact, they are plainly supporting it in defiance of God's word. Anyone in communion with this denomination is placing their immortal soul in peril.
(continued from previous)
In regards to women (whether lesbian or not) in the pastorate, the Bible is clear:
(1 Timothy 2:9-15, Holy Bible/King James Version)
“9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.
15 Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.”
The HUSBAND of one wife… HIS children:
(1 Timothy 3:1-7, Holy Bible/KJV)
“1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”
(Titus 1:5-9, Holy Bible/KJV)
“5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”
It is not about discrimination against any one group, but it is about what the Word of God says. The Holy Bible is the standard for the Lord Jesus Christ's true church. But we must remember that not all “churches” on earth are true biblical churches. God says in Revelation that He will judge churches. Also, not all who profess to be “Christians” are truly Christ’s own, born again by the Spirit of God.
Throughout the Bible, God gives warnings about various sins against Him, such as:
(Romans 1:24-28, Holy Bible/King James Version)
“24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
Therefore, God describes homosexuals/lesbians above and in other verses throughout the Bible. For any church or denomination to seriously consider ordaining homosexuals/lesbians into the pastorate to shepherd Christ’s people in His church are violating biblical principles set forth by God Himself. They are either sadly blinded and do not understand the Word of God regarding this subject, or fear man and will not remain steadfast and practice biblical Truth.
Please also read comments by star2.
(to be continued)
GLAAD wants to split too many hairs that everyone else has to deal with and with me personally I can`t speak for everyone its stuff like this a cause of problems and not solutions...and also causes people that would normally go to Church say the H-- w/it and just stay home...... http://www.religionandspirituality.com/currentEvents/view.php?StoryID=20080307-092815-7919r
This one is easy... Any candidate who thinks ordaining actively gay pastors is OK needs to be immediately ex communicated.... Someone of the gay persuasion flagged all of our comments.... Once a coward always a coward.
God says in His Word that homosexuality is an abomination (Lev 18:22) and all who practice it will be damned eternally (1 Cor 6:9-10). Why would God call a person who is in rebellion against Him and is damned to pastor or oversee His Church?
http://www.religionandspirituality.com/currentEvents/view.php?StoryID=20080307-092815-7919r ...... Interesting story related to this subject........
Okay this one is an absolute no brainer.... Any ordained clergy or pastoral candidate that even thinks that ordaining a practicing homosexual is the right answer needs to be immediately ex communicated from Holy Orders....no if ands or buts ....
star2 is right on. Add 1Tim 1:10 and that obscure passage in Romans (1:24-27)
God says homosexuality is an abomination (Lev 18:22) and all those who practice it will be damned eternally (1 Cor 6:9-10). Why would God choose a person who is in rebellion against God to lead His Church?
For any one to say that He would neither knows God nor the Word of God.