| GA News: Door may be opening to ordaining gays and lesbians? |
| Written by Jack Haberer, OUTLOOK Editor | ||||
| Friday, 27 June 2008 19:26 | ||||
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SAN JOSE, Cal. -- Commissioners to the 218th General Assembly have voted to change the denomination’s constitution to approve the ordination of gay and lesbian persons, a change that will require ratification by a majority of the 173 regional presbyteries over the next year.
Two other actions adopted by the assembly will take effect immediately. First, the commissioners approved by a vote of 375 to 324 a proposal from the Presbytery of John Knox that allows ordination “examining bodies to give prayerful and careful consideration, on an individual, case-by-case basis, to any departure from an ordination standard in matters of belief or practice that a candidate may declare during examination.” This takes effect immediately. Second, the commissioners voted to send to the presbyteries for ratification language to replace the present rules that requires those being ordained and/or installed into ordained office to live “in fidelity in a marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” The language approved in the GA for ratification says:Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards. Third, the Assembly’s vote on the new amendment also included the directive to rescind all Authoritative Interpretations to the Constitution, dating back to 1978, that have stated that homosexual practice is not compatible with ordained service in the denomination. The elimination of this interpretive language does not overturn the prohibition; that would take effect only if the proposed amendment gets ratified. But the authoritative interpretations provided much more specificity to the constitutional policy. Your Responses (2)
J. Ben Sloan
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pastor, Lake Murray Presbyterian Eight years ago when the general assembly sent this same resolution to the presbyteries the church I now pastor split. We lost 300 members and another 200 became semi-active. This decision of GA shows that the Peace Unity and Purity efforts were worth nothing. The Covenant Network is less concerned about the peace of the church, the purity of the church, and the unity of the church than pushing their own cultural agenda. It is a very sad day when we care less for the church than our own idealism. The other part of this is how if this passes can we (with integrity) say that our standard is the Bible any more? If the Old Testament at one time says such practice is "detestable" (Lev. 18:22-24) for sexual immorality, and now we say it is okay? These morals were also confirmed in the New Testament, so it is not just a one time cultural fling. If we really say homosexuality and adultery (for G-6106b forbids both)are okay, then we can say ANYTHING is okay. Lying, stealing, idolatry perhaps these were just cultural things too? I fear for our wonderul church and will definitely be in prayer for her. |
Joon W. Lee
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Pastor, Korean Presbyterian Church of Columbus Here we go again, PCUSA. This decision has just opened a step toward more confusions, debates, schisms and departures of congregations within PCUSA. The same thing has been dealt with several times in the past, and again now? I hope that each presbytery will make a wise decision faithful to the heart of God. |
