PCUSA Eliminates Restrictions on Homosexuality
The 218th Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly met in San Jose, Calif., June 21-28, and made sweeping changes eliminating prohibitions to homosexual behavior.
The commissioners deleted the requirement that church officers and ministry candidates adhere to "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness" and struck a phrase condemning “homosexual perversion” from the Heidelberg catechism.
Additionally, an overture redefining marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two people” was defeated by a margin of 4-to-1, but a comment was added, saying that "the PCUSA will continue to seek ways and means to see God's blessing on alternative forms of covenant between two people."
The commissioners deleted the requirement that church officers and ministry candidates adhere to "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness" and struck a phrase condemning “homosexual perversion” from the Heidelberg catechism.
Additionally, an overture redefining marriage from “a man and a woman” to “two people” was defeated by a margin of 4-to-1, but a comment was added, saying that "the PCUSA will continue to seek ways and means to see God's blessing on alternative forms of covenant between two people."
Renewal groups across the board swiftly denounced the changes. Presbyterians for Renewal said the actions have “made it clear that the PCUSA's compromise of the gospel of Jesus Christ has reached an unprecedented level.” The Presbyterian Renewal Network said the denomination “lies gravely wounded” and that the “decisions place the PCUSA in spiritual jeopardy.”
Figures were recently released showing that the PCUSA lost 57,572 members in 2007, leaving the denomination with 2.2 million members—nearly half the number of Presbyterians who were members of the predecessor denominations in 1965 that merged in 1983 to form the PCUSA.
Stated clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick called the decline "a disappointment” but said “a number of people thought the figures would be higher in 2007, with some even predicting a split down the middle, given the challenging issues with which we are grappling.”
For more on this, and other actions of the PCUSA’s General Assembly, visit www.layman.org.
Charles Burge is executive editor of The Presbyterian Lay Committee (www.layman.org) and has served as a ruling elder for Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla
Figures were recently released showing that the PCUSA lost 57,572 members in 2007, leaving the denomination with 2.2 million members—nearly half the number of Presbyterians who were members of the predecessor denominations in 1965 that merged in 1983 to form the PCUSA.
Stated clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick called the decline "a disappointment” but said “a number of people thought the figures would be higher in 2007, with some even predicting a split down the middle, given the challenging issues with which we are grappling.”
For more on this, and other actions of the PCUSA’s General Assembly, visit www.layman.org.
Charles Burge is executive editor of The Presbyterian Lay Committee (www.layman.org) and has served as a ruling elder for Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Fla
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TE Dave Sarafolean
Midland, Michigan
We might complain about things in the PCA but let's be grateful for the wisdom of our founders who made it possible for every church to be represented at General Assembly.