The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. has voted to change a rule allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the clergy.

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edition.cnn.com/2011/US/05/10/presbyterian.gay.lesbian.ordination/

The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. has voted to change a rule allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the clergy. The current rule requires ‘fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.’ CNN reports the change could make it possible for people in same-sex relationships to become Presbyterian clergymembers.

The church put the vote to its 173 presbyteries, or governing bodies, nationwide.
 
On Tuesday, the Twin Citites Area presbytery, which covers Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, became the 87th presbytery – and the deciding vote – to approve an amendment that will remove the constitutional requirement that all ministers, elders and deacons live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness."

**“I see this as an opportunity to build a stronger church. Faithful and qualified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians will be able to openly serve the church with energy, intelligence, imagination and love,” **said Rev. Dr. Janet Edwards, a Presbyterian minister in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, soon after the vote.

According to the church’s website, it has 2.3 million members in 50 states and Puerto Rico.

An organization called Presbyterians for Renewal spoke out against the possible change earlier this month, calling it a "source of unspeakably deep grief."
 
That’s one of the reasons I became Catholic. I didn’t like all the Protestants changing moral absolutes as defined by the Bible by a conference vote. Even more people will leave the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. now.
 
Romans 1:

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.
 
They’ve chosen the wide road - which some other protestant denominations have elected to follow as well.
 
I thought this group had made this change awhile ago. PCUSA has always been one of the more liberal denominations out there. This is not shocking to me at all.
 
Oh LOL you beat me to it. I just posted a thread on this as well!
 
firstmode said:
edition.cnn.com/2011/US/05/10/presbyterian.gay.lesbian.ordination/

The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. has voted to change a rule allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the clergy. The current rule requires ‘fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.’ CNN reports the change could make it possible for people in same-sex relationships to become Presbyterian clergymembers.

The church put the vote to its 173 presbyteries, or governing bodies, nationwide.
Click to expand...
very surprising to me
 
Same slippery slope as the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America went down, first it was the Bible wasn’t the inerrant Word of God, then ordination of women, the homosexual ordination. Lutheran theologian Charles Porterfield Krauth said that error creeps into the church in three stages, first error says to Truth, we are small, just leave us alone, we will not bother anyone, second, error says to Truth, we equal to you, we can live and let live, finally error says to Truth, we are the majority and you Truth will have to change or leave because you are the disturber of the peace of the church.
 
firstmode said:
…"I see this as an opportunity to build a stronger church

This statement would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad.
firstmode;7858478:
An organization called Presbyterians for Renewal spoke out against the possible change earlier this month, calling it a "source of unspeakably deep grief."
Click to expand...
Good phrase for it.

Gates of hell are prevailing…
Click to expand...
 
The First Presb. Church of Orlando is seeking to separate itself from the broader church in opposition to this new policy. I’m glad to hear it.
 
Hello to all. This subject is a very good example of why I am working to join the Catholic community. Being raised Methodist, I cannot speak for the Presbyterian Church directly but it is this sort of disregard for the scripture which is driving me down my present path. I feel that non-Catholic Christian denominations have for years changed their policies to adapt to the ever changing secular world. They fail to fulfill a basic need within us all; the need for a stable foundation to build our lives upon.
 
firstmode said:
edition.cnn.com/2011/US/05/10/presbyterian.gay.lesbian.ordination/

The Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. has voted to change a rule allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the clergy. The current rule requires ‘fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.’ CNN reports the change could make it possible for people in same-sex relationships to become Presbyterian clergymembers.

The church put the vote to its 173 presbyteries, or governing bodies, nationwide.
Click to expand...
The largest Presbyterian ecclesial community in our city has formed a group of 7 like minded PCUSA communities with an eye toward forming a sub-denomination (another new denomination in effect) to avoid the issue and preserve the former status quo.

The fact of the matter is that PC-USA is a pro-choice community and has been for years (see: PCUSA.org and do search for “abortion”). With that horror as one of its basic tenets, why they would care about homosexuals in the pulpit will remain a mystery to me.

I have friends at the local community and know that this is a big issue for some of them. For others it’s an “I;m not worried about it.” moment.
 
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