Posted on 12/31/2013 11:49:07 AM PST by Phillyred
A local church will on Sunday ring in the new year by ordaining Philadelphia's first openly gay male Presbyterian pastor.
Broad Street Ministry will welcome Princeton Theological Seminary graduate David Norse as its new leader, according to the Avenue of the Arts church's convening minister, the Rev. Bill Golderer.
"There's a lot of progressive rhetoric among Christian churches that are trying to revitalize themselves, but this is a progressive move," Golderer said. "Having David ordained to the ministry is a way of performing the gospel that we espouse. It's acting, not talking."
The broad-minded church has long been demonstrating its preference for acting over talking. BSM has made headlines for its ministry to the needy, including a weekly "Breaking Bread" program during which diners are treated with dignity and connected to social services. And Norse, who is now a pastoral associate, is already embedded in the BSM community, where he helps serve meals and provides counseling to congregants.
"I am blessed and proud to be a part of BSM and its outreach and advocacy for the forgotten among us," Norse said in a statement. "BSM is a congregation that welcomes all and cares deeply about the poor and economically disadvantaged. We believe in a God who expects us to serve others in our daily lives. Our church is one of inclusion that welcomes the LGBTQ community and sees inclusion as central to what Christianity is about."
The U.S. Presbyterian Church in 2011 amended its constitution to allow sexually active unmarried members to become church officers. That included those in same-sex relationships. Though the development led to some tension nationwide, Golderer said the decision to ordain Norse hasn't caused such disagreements within the local community.
"The church is not a political party, meaning unanimity among a gathered people of God is not the goal," Golderer said. "It's okay to have tension. It's okay to have disagreement, but David hasn't created tension because David is so exemplary and everything about his life commands the gospel to speak to other people. ... Even people who might disagree about this issue, I think, are really united around David and his gift."
Norse expressed the desire to expand BSM's outreach even further, serving more populations in need.
“We recently started having small groups meet after worship, and will be launching an LGBTQ fellowship group soon," he said. "We are looking for ways to serve particularly vulnerable members of the queer community we haven’t met yet."
Norse will be ordained during a ceremony slated for 4 p.m. at the church, located at 315 S. Broad St.
"By welcoming David into the ordained ministry, we are saying unequivocally that his sexuality delights us and it's a part of who he is that will help him be an effective and faithful minister," Golderer said. "I'd rather have a statement of welcome being made by a person than on paper. It's a huge milestone for Broad Street. We're so excited about him."
ISGAS.
I Scarcely Give A S....
Paul warned us about all of this. In fact, the older I get, one of more compelling proofs as to the authority of scripture is just watching events play out exactly as the Bible says they will. Even the OT historical narrative sections of the bible aren’t there so much to tell us what happened as to tell us what happens.
The Presbyterian Church of America is generally less theologically conservative than the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (which split from mainline Presbyterianism much earlier), but more conservative than the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (which split from the mainline more recently), but all are more conservative than the Presbyterian Church USA which reported a loss of 61,047 members (−2.9%) in 2010, a loss of 63,804 in 2011, and a loss of 102,791 members (-5.3%) in 2012.
So it seems this is just a wacky branch aligned with the phony world council of Churches and its losing members at a rapid rate.
“’Golderer said. “Having David ordained to the ministry is a way of performing the gospel that we espouse. It’s acting, not talking.” “
It’s all so simple if you just take the time to read.
“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:18
Might need to re-name the pastor’s new digs as the Church of the Violated Anus.
A known, self-confessed, pervert, unrepentant, adulterer as their “church” leader. What could be wrong with that? /sarc (as if that should be necessary to state)
Not Catholic, so not anticipating too many objections.
Fabulous!
Idiot people that are letting this happen..Keep your kids close if you decide to attend any service there..
Christian denominations have to make a choice in this dilemma.
Does continuing to reject homosexuality hammer another nail in the coffin towards the demise of their denomination or does accepting homosexuality signify their fear of compromising their values over shrinking numbers?
I’ll continue to have faith the later is the case. I can see many bible verses used in denominational bylaws that can be taken many ways, but the idea of homosexuality being a sin is repeated so often and clearly I cannot understand how some Christians are saying it is okay. Homosexuals, like all sinners, should be welcomed into the church. And just like all sinners, it should be understood what they are doing is not right in the sight of God.
“Progressivism” is Satanic, whether in politics or religion. It should be roundly rebuked. This is NOT Christian.
What PCUSA did was to remove the requirement that ministers, elders and deacons be either faithful in marriage or chaste in singleness, thus providing that engaging in homosexuality, fornication, adultery or other sexually immoral conduct was not a barrier to being ordained in the PCUSA.
The church thrives as a remnant. Indeed, as the remnant of a remnant.
The problem is that most of the Mainline denominations are controlled by non-Christians.
The only thing that is saving the Methodists is that their church is a single worldwide church, so the African and Asian churches block American efforts to authorize immoral conduct and homosexual pseudo-marriages.
given that they have chosen to define perversity as “the gospel” its just plain simple EVIL.
People who sin a lot as we see it in this mortal coil can be non Christians, or they can be weak Christians. Both situations exist.
That’s one reason why the harvest does not happen until maturity. You couldn’t tell wheat from tares otherwise; you would hurt the wheat. Or as said elsewhere, a bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not put out until He leads justice to victory.
Yes, if the sin is not abandoned at some point the person is left in Satan’s slavery. I don’t know what will serve to stand for buggery in actual hell but it probably won’t be very pretty.
Anyhow, practically, we have a problem here. Christianity would be better poised to strengthen itself if it realized that these sinners, too, can be saved even as to their earthly lives, by grace. In the case of males committing homosexual acts, they need their manhood (currently poured forth to the devil) back. And God the Father will do exactly that for them, if they first offer it to Him. It is not rocket science. It is spiritual promise. Most of modern Christendom does not seriously offer their bodies to God to be sanctified... if they did, we would see spiritual dynamite. And such things are why Christ lamented whether He would see faith “on the earth.”
It seems they are worshipping his sexuality. Not once did they mention scripture or give praise to Jesus instead they say “his sexuality delights us”.
I really am not the type to say only “saints” can come to church, because of course none of us are saints, we are all sinners. Jesus “writing in the dust” could come up with a good description of the terrible sins each one of us has committed. So my church, which is PCUSA (but for how much longer is not clear) has no problem with anyone coming to our church and we welcome everyone. But we are still very clear in our church that sin is sin. And we hold our ministers, elders and deacons to Biblical standards, even if they have been repealed by the denomination.
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