Who will be the first "evangelical" pastor in our ranks to leave the pack and set the pace for a new day with regard to the marriage and ordination of GLBT persons?
The Biblical work has been done.
As with regard to the historical processes relating to race and to women, various conservative groups solemnly sited Scripture and wrote ponderous tomes in support of the status quo, claiming the weight of history, the wrath of God and the righteous certitude of their cause as legitimation of their view.
I know there are evangelical pastors in our ranks who are uncomfortable with the evangelical freight train hurtling toward withdrawal from the PCUSA, a freight train largely out of control now, as various folks made decisions that now have a life of their own.
Always interesting, albeit sad, to watch how, in any of our lives, decisions made take on a life of their own as time unfolds, compelling us to make further decisions never intended or envisioned at the front.
Many of my evangelical colleagues are women and men of prayer and thought, and I know their level of discomfort with the more vociferous voices in their ranks.
Sooner or later, one of them, perhaps at the cost of a job in a deep-pocket congregation, will break ranks and lead the way ... as did some friends, way back when, who took to the pulpit one Sunday and made it clear that segregation was a sin. And those congregations rose up in whiteous (yes, that's what intended to write) indignation and showed their uppity preacher the door.
Truth can be costly, as we all regularly preach, but rarely want to experience.
But a price is paid both ways. Silence and acquiescence take their toll, too, depleting the soul of its integrity, compelling the pastor to nod her head and voice his agreement when, in fact, the heart, if not crying out, trembles a bit at the ease with which conscience is sacrificed on the altar of job security and sublimation - and by sublimation, I mean: substituting a thousand good things for the one thing that counts.
Anyway ... enough for now.
I wonder: Who will it be?
To step into the pulpit one Sunday and say, "Discrimination against GLBT persons and our work to bar them from ordination and marriage is wrong, just plain wrong, and any or all thoughts of pulling up stakes and going our own way, or aligning with another denomination is just plain nonsense, and it's time for us to get back to the real business of the Gospel."
Which evangelical pastor, in what congregation, will break from the pack and set the pace.
Who will it be?
WHO will it be?
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Canada
Casa Grande, AZ
Butler, PA
Cedar Rapids, IA
Enterprise, AL 36330
Enough with compromise and getting along. It's time to stand for the truth of Apostolic teaching (see especially Paul in Romans and Corinthians). I fear the the PCUSA bureacracy has already lead astray too many. I wonder if the denomination is salvagable in its present state of confusion and compromise with worldly values and beliefs...
Council Bluffs, Iowa
You claim that the Biblical work has been done. The only thing I have heard for the past 20 or so years are superficial straw dog arguments that seek to classify homosexual behavior with outmoded Levitical purity codes. At the risk of being blunt, the issue is not about which appendage is inserted into which orifice. The issue derives from whence we derive our core identity.
We live in a highly sexualized culture which implicitly states that one cannot have an authentic human experience unless one is sexually active. Our culture pressures young people at ever younger ages to declare their sexual identity. These labels in turn are used to classify and predict human behavior. As if human behavior can ever be classified and predicted! The fact that we have categories of Bisexual and Transgendered is proof enough that the narrative that posits gay or straight orientation is just as arbitrary as the narrative that claimed the sun revolved around the earth.
As Reform theologians we affirm that our core identity derives from our relationship to God through Jesus Christ. Any other basis of our core identity falls into the realm of idolatry. That’s why it is commandment #1- it is the easiest to break. If I affirm any other basis for my identity- gender, ethnic background, economic status, political affiliation or whatever, I am an idolater and should not be ordained.
Bottom line, there is no Gay, there is no Straight. There’s only us, broken failures who stand in the need of God’s grace. On that basis I will relate to anyone, even if I do not speak their language.
I don’t know if the PC(USA) will implode. That is not my primary concern. I’ll make you a deal. If you will desist in attempting to claim moral high ground by painting me with the broad brushstrokes of racism, sexism, etc I’ll buy lunch at a time and place of your own choosing. But until then, could you please back off from the inflammatory language?
Paul Masters
Pastor, New Horizon Presbyterian Church
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Charlotte, NC
