The Eastern Pennsylvania Presbytery recently submitted Overture 18 to the 37th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America, to be held in Orlando, Fla., June 16-19.

Overture 18, “A Declaration Concerning Homosexuals in the Military,” would authorize the moderator of the Assembly to deliver a letter, in person, to President Barack Obama, reminding him of what “has in all history been the unambiguous instruction of God our Creator regarding sexual relationships among mankind … .”

The letter reads in part, “The Presbyterian Church in America, as one expression of God’s Church in the United States, seeks lovingly to warn that your publicly announced intention to normalize and commend homosexual relationships for members of the Armed Forces would deny Divine purpose in the very Creation of Man, and would contend against Divine law that has been revealed for the great good of all Mankind.”

The Declaration also reminds the President that, “This Nation’s prosperity and security is ultimately dependent upon the good pleasure and Providence of God … .”

Overture 18 additionally implores the General Assembly to call the PCA to “a Day of Fasting and Prayer and continual prayer for this matter.”

In 1993, the 21st General Assembly answered a similar overture from the Potomac Presbytery seeking to address to President Clinton regarding homosexuals in the military (cf. A Declaration of Conscience, 21st General Assembly, 1993, III, 12, p.129).

To read Overture 18 in its entirety visit http://www.pcaac.org/37thovertures.htm.