Two regional bodies of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have rejected a proposed amendment that would allow non-celibate gays and lesbians to be ordained.
Majorities in the Presbyteries of Central Washington in Washington state and Palo Duro in Texas voted against the measure on Oct. 18. They were among the first, out of the denomination's 173 presbyteries, to vote on the controversial amendment.
In June, the General Assembly – PC(USA)'s highest governing body – approved an overture that would delete a requirement that clergy live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness" and replace it with language that would not single out a sexual conduct standard.
The proposal must be approved by a majority of the denomination's presbyteries within the next year.
Church conservatives gathered last week to organize support against the amendment and push for its defeat.
"We are living in the midst of a once great denomination that is now in ruins," said Terry Schlossberg, a leader of the Presbyterian Coalition, an alliance of more than a dozen renewal groups within the PC(USA), according to the Presbyterian News Service. "The challenge of rebuilding is before us and rubble is the stuff we are given for the rebuilding project."
Urging Presbyterians at the Coalition's annual gathering to vote against the amendment, Schlossberg said they must stand strong against the prevailing trend of a sexually immoral age and keep the current ordination language that she believes is rooted in Scripture.
"We did not invent sexual moral standards. They were handed to us as the design and good purpose for our lives by the one who dwells at the center," she said, according to PNS.
The current fidelity/chastity standard, she added, is "a clear line of demarcation between the church and an unbelieving world."
While debates on gay and lesbian clergy have continued for decades within the PC(USA), Schlossberg reminded like-minded conservatives that the denomination's presbyteries had overwhelmingly rejected and defeated similar amendments in 1997 and 2000.
"[T]his vote does not discourage us because we keep losing. No. Actually we keep winning this vote and we have done that by a wider margin each time we vote," she said.
This year is just another opportunity – an opportunity for "the church to bear witness to her faith in the Holy Spirit’s power to forgive and receive the repentant sinner and day-by-day to expect the most extreme of makeovers to create a new person in the very image of Christ," the Presbyterian Coalition leader highlighted.
"We must go faithfully and constantly into this vote, well prepared and determined to deliver a stronger vote than the last time around," Schlossberg stated, as reported by PNS.
Last month, two PC(USA) ministers drafted an open theological declaration to confront the denomination with what they believe were "multiple errors" from this past summer's General Assembly. The Rev. Albert Rhodes Stuart of Highland Presbyterian Church in Slippery Rock, Pa., and Patrick McElroy of Park United Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pa., released the declaration to take a stand for God's Word.
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"fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness"
How is this homophobic? All it is saying is that gay or straight, both can choose marriage or to remain single.
[ "How very sad that homophobia is more important to these two presbyteries than the integrity of the Presbyterian Church." ] << >>
I believe you have it exactly backwards. The integrity of the (TRUE) church is of the utmost importance to these people. That's why they voted against what scripture, in numerous places, calls "sin." Furthermore, you misused the word homophobia. It means - an irrational fear OF homosexuals. They do not "fear" homosexuals themselves, but they fear "FOR" homosexuals considering that scripture clearly teaches that lifestyle "will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven." The local presbyteries are far more Biblically grounded than their ultra liberal national leadership. God bless them.
In other news, the PC(USA) was accused of being "Ba'alphobic" when they voted down a proposal to allow clergy to worship at Asherah poles in the privacy of their own homes.
weshlovcrm wrote:
"How very sad that homophobia is more important to these two presbyteries than the integrity of the Presbyterian Church. When radical anti-gay activists in any denomination would rather cause a schism than repent and admit that their homophobia is immoral and harms others, it shows where their hearts really lie. Homophobia is more important to them than God."
How very good it is that the Word of God is more important to these two presbyteries than the integrity of the Presbyterian Church. When radical homosexual activists in any denomination would rather disregard the Word of God than repent and admit that their radical homosexual agenda is immoral and harms others, it shows where their hearts really lie. The radical homosexual lifestyle is more important to them than the Word of God.
It is not sad and these leaders are far from homophobic. In order to be clergy and teach the Word of God, one must first submit to it. The blatant and abundant language used throughout the bible to describe sexual acts outside of the covenant of marriage regardless of sexual orientation is overwhelming. If they are attempting to be leaders of a Christian organization, at the very least they must be willing to follow the tenants of said Christianity. Otherwise there are many other religions out there where we are not called to repent AND TURN from our sin. Practicing homosexual minsters do not fit this schema. I pray Schlossberg is right and that this will further solidify the PCUSA and will call them to stand for righteousness and holiness.
So if one is opposed to what God is opposed to they have some type of phobia? Did you ever think these decisions were based on them wanting to do what's right in the sight of God which is to not condone sin, to love the sinner but hate the sin as God hates sin and loves the sinner?
(Two PCUSA Presbyteries Reject Pro-Gay Clergy Measure)
Amen!
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11:5).