Presbyterian leaders approves gay clergy policy

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This is just the PCUSA, which was already liberal-ish. Some of the more conservative members will probably move to more conservative Presbyterian groups, such as the PCA. And the new policy will attract new liberal members, so their overall numbers will likely stay about the same, but they’ll become a little more liberal.
 
When I saw what trouble the Episcopalians went through as a result of their approval of gay clergy, I thought that it would be an object lesson to Lutherans. No such luck, and we in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have been severely distracted from our missions as a result. Now I see that the Presbyterians are laying hands on that same hot stove. A third denomination will now spend several years navel gazing and pulling itself apart.

A friend send me a message on this in an article he saw on Huffington Post. I thought it was quite telling that it was in their political section, not the religion one. I have tried to understand how this could be seen as consistent with Scripture, but I cannot understand how it can be3 reconciled with Paul’s teachings on the organization and leadership of churches. That Paul lived in a time and a society that was much more accepting of what we would call homosexual activity and warn against having leaders who practiced such behaviors is telling. One certainly cannot accuse Paul from acting out of ignorance.
 
My brother is part of another Presbyterian group. The one referred to here is the group he has referred to in the past as the “bleeding heart liberal” branch of the Presbyterian church. In fact he calls it a “club” instead of a “church”. (All his words, I’m just reporting!)

Suffice it to say that there is a fair amount of division among Presbyterians and it is likely that those who do not subscribe to one particular view can find a home elsewhere.
 
They will wail, gnash, complain, some will threaten to, and maybe even will splinter and in 30 years feel embarrassed when they explain to grandkids about the times when gay people could not be ministers the same way grandparents and great grandparents do now when they explain that there used to be “colored” water fountains and restaurants.
 
Lutheranteach said:
They will wail, gnash, complain, some will threaten to, and maybe even will splinter and in 30 years feel embarrassed when they explain to grandkids about the times when gay people could not be ministers the same way grandparents and great grandparents do now when they explain that there used to be “colored” water fountains and restaurants.
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In 30 yrs when I’m middle-aged I’ll still be disgusted with gay clergy, and will still be embarassed of the Biblical lightweights who got embarassed ‘when gay people could not be ministers’. Catholic church rules…practicing gay clergy is for the confused. Are you confused???
 
John7 said:
In 30 yrs when I’m middle-aged I’ll still be disgusted with gay clergy, and will still be embarassed of the Biblical lightweights who got embarassed ‘when gay people could not be ministers’. Catholic church rules…practicing gay clergy is for the confused. Are you confused???
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Not in the least.
 
John7 said:
In 30 yrs when I’m middle-aged I’ll still be disgusted with gay clergy, and will still be embarassed of the Biblical lightweights who got embarassed ‘when gay people could not be ministers’. Catholic church rules…practicing gay clergy is for the confused. Are you confused???
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You don’t believe there are any practicing gay priests?
 
I lived through the racial discord in the South. The pastor who taught my catechetical classes left because of the disagreements over race and politics. Our church split and a Missouri Synod Lutheran church was founded by the disaffected members. To compare the inclusion of gays in the clergy with the struggle for racial equality is offensive to those who fought for racial equality. Homosexuality is a behavior, race is not.

The National Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to allow practicing homosexuals into the clergy. Previously the requirement that non-married clergy be celibate did not preclude someone who considered himself gay from being a member of the clergy. Now, either we have a dual standard in which heterosexual unmarried clergy could be brought up on charges if they acted openly or we have an acceptance of clergy openly flouting requirements for premarital continence. As one unmarried Lutheran pastor put it, the Assembly just OK’d me living with my girlfriend.
 
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