Presbyterian church opens door to gay clergy

Reuters ^ | June 20, 2006 | Verna Gates

[RDTF]

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - The largest U.S. Presbyterian Church body approved a measure on Tuesday that would open the way for the ordination of gays and lesbians under certain circumstances.

The new policy was approved on a vote of 57-43 percent among 500 church representatives at the biennial meeting of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. It gives local church organizations more leeway in deciding if gays can be ordained as lay deacons and elders as well as clergy, provided they are faithful to the church's core values.

"It permits local governing bodies to examine candidates on a wider criterion than sexual orientation ... it allows these bodies to look at the whole person and not categorize them," said John Walton, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in New York's Greenwich Village and a member of the "Covenant Network of Presbyterians" which backed the change.

[mom-7]

May God forgive them, I do not blieve that they know what they are doing. Doesn't the Bible mean anything anymore? You cannot pick and chose what you are going to believe.

[RDTF]

That combined with this!

http://www.local6.com/family/9393768/detail.html

Presbyterians Think Of Changing 'Father, Son, Holy Spirit'

POSTED: 5:09 pm EDT June 19, 2006
UPDATED: 7:11 pm EDT June 19, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The divine Trinity -- "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" -- could also be known as "Mother, Child and Womb" or "Rock, Redeemer, Friend" at some Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) services under an action Monday by the church's national assembly.

Delegates to the meeting voted to "receive" a policy paper on gender-inclusive language for the Trinity, a step short of approving it. That means church officials can propose experimental liturgies with alternative phrasings for the Trinity, but congregations won't be required to use them.

"This does not alter the church's theological position, but provides an educational resource to enhance the spiritual life of our membership," legislative committee chair Nancy Olthoff, an Iowa laywoman, said during Monday's debate on the Trinity.

The assembly narrowly defeated a conservative bid to refer the paper back for further study.

[Dreagon]

“And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. - Revelation

[VOA]

There go those wascaly Presbyterians (of the PCUSA) again!

[Gay State Conservative]

It gives local church organizations more leeway in deciding if gays can be ordained as lay deacons and elders as well as clergy, provided they are faithful to the church's core values.

Can anybody confirm for this Catholic that today's Presbyterian Church has any such values?

[wjcsux]

I left the PC USA and went to the PCA many years ago. PC USA is a denomination that has gone from decline to freefall.

[PeteB570]

That's it then.

If you have a rule and you say you can make exceptions then you don't have a rule.

Next years tithes will be to a PCA church.

[MBB1984]

Why do they even bother to call themselves "Christian?" They are far, far removed from true Christianity. They sound more like Unitarians.

[wjcsux]

Can anybody confirm for this Catholic that today's Presbyterian Church has any such values?
The PC USA doesn't have any values. I was an Elder of a PC USA church and resigned. I moved to a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) church. The PCA teaches the Word of God as it comes directly from Scripture. If you want, check their site here http://www.pcanet.org/.

[yankeedame]

... would open the way for the ordination of gays and lesbians under certain circumstances.

Like what? That they can walk and chew gum at the same time?

[madprof98]

It gives local church organizations more leeway in deciding if gays can be ordained as lay deacons and elders as well as clergy, provided they are faithful to the church's core values.

Political correctness and immediate sexual gratification?

[samadams2000]

Church of the Aboninables.

[rockthecasbah]

Thank you for clarifying the difference between PC USA and PCA. I attended a Presbyterian Church a couple of years ago and they were a Bible based church - nothing resembling what I see coming from the PC USA nowadays.

[Gay State Conservative]

The PC USA doesn't have any values.

So,in other words,it's a "Ten Suggestions" kinda denomination.

[A CA Guy]

Not good!

[RDTF]

What's the difference between those and Cumberland Presbyterian? That's how I was raised as a child.

[Mark was here]

The Presbyterians donated to the Angela Davis defense fund.

[Eastbound]

Maybe they should have drew lots

57 to 43? Didn't know the Spirit of God was that divided.

[Hebrews 11:6]

"Presbyterian church opens [back] door to gay clergy"

And they've opened the front door to Satan.