Presbyterian Church's new policy makes way for lesbian Chicagoan

Windy City Times ^ | 13 Jul 2011 | Chuck Colbert

[Cronos]

A new policy that opens the door to ordination of openly gay deacons, elders, and ministers in the Presbyterian Church ( USA ) took effect July 10, with prayer vigils and liturgical celebrations to mark the historic occasion held across the nation from Pittsburgh to Nashville to Denver and beyond.

Closer to home, the landmark change means that Andersonville resident Jeannine Oakes' dream of becoming an ordained minister of word and sacrament—in a church she dearly loves—may very well come true after all.

"I am still in the early stages of the process, with a lot of requirements to go," Oakes said during a telephone interview last week.

Currently, Oakes is an "inquirer," a denominational term for a one-year period in which a person "discerns"—or figures out—what it means to be an ordained pastor.

The next stage is "candidate," a one-to-two-year period when prospective ministers complete divinity degrees and take ordination exams.

Once that process is complete, a committee certifies that a candidate is ready to receive a "call."

Before being ordained, Presbyterian policy requires that a congregation call—or seek out—a pastor to ministry.

Like many LGBT people of faith, Oakes struggled to reconcile her sexuality and spirituality Not raised a Presbyterian, she grew up in Aurora, Ill., and attended a non-denominational evangelical bible church.

By junior high school, Oakes and her brother found their way to a nearby Presbyterian church that had lively youth group....

......Overall, "I hope that this type of policy change now in effect, will let the [ LGBT ] community know that Presbyterian Church ( USA ) is becoming more accepting," she said. "Certainly, having a gay pastor in the pulpit, I would hope, is a sign of welcome to all people."

[Cronos]

Surprising on many levels.

[sr4402]

One word to PCUSA families: Flee

Consider the PCA

[exnavy]

And sad.

[Pollster1]

she said. "Certainly, having a gay pastor in the pulpit, I would hope, is a sign of welcome to all people."

I agree, with one correction: Having a gay pastor in the pulpit is a sign of welcome to all people - except Christians.

[Broker]

We fled in 1992. They put their faith in themselves.

[armydoc]

Maybe she can start a website for lesbian ministers like the Catholic priests did:

http://www.venerabilis.tk/

[MarkBsnr]

Consider the PCA

Depends on whether the lesbian deacons look like the girls in Penthouse or look like Elton John.

[sr4402]

Depends on whether the lesbian deacons look like the girls in Penthouse or look like Elton John.

Sorry, no women pastors, elders or deacons in the PCA.

[sr4402]

We fled in 1992. They put their faith in themselves.

I fled in 1980. Pastor had an affair with his secretary and they decided to keep him.

The problem actually started in 1924 when Biblical inerrancy was taken out, undermining the authority of Scripture from then on.

The PCA was created around 1973 when PCUSA was funding Socialist Revolutionaries in Central America and condoning abortions. The PCA went back to the reformed roots and the Westminster confessions.

It was a breath of fresh air coming to the PCA as the political correctness of the PCUSA was so stifling.

[Cronos]

Nah, that's a fake, virus-infested website. This lesbian Presbyterian pastoress to be, on the other hand is real.

you can sing along with her when she becomes your local pastoress.

[Cronos]

The problem actually started in 1924 when Biblical inerrancy was taken out, undermining the authority of Scripture from then on.

I did not know that. I thought the PCUSA was a new creation from the PCUS, right?

[MarkBsnr]

Izzat so? Maybe you might catch up on current affairs:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2646694/posts?page=5#5

[sr4402]

Izzat so? Maybe you might catch up on current affairs

Sorry, it is the plank of the PCA not to have women pastors, elders or deacons. If a PCA church goes rogue then it is out.

[Cronos]

I thought the problem started when in 1956 it allowed pastoresses. did it really start from ‘24? Or was the decline dormant for decades after ‘24?

[sr4402]

I did not know that. I thought the PCUSA was a new creation from the PCUS, right?

There is more history than I care to go into, but abandoning the inerrancy and ultimately the authority of Scripture led to the problems we are seeing today.

We've seen a number of denominations lately, that have failed lately due to the same, haven't we?

[Cronos]

Exactly. But what astonishes me is that we (and I mean ALL of us Christians) don't learn from these mistakes

it should be so clear to all that there lies the slippery slope and we all keep stepping blindly into it over and over again

[sr4402]

1924 was when Biblical Inerrancy was dropped. This opened the door for all the rest and ultimately the plunge for Gay ministers, which IMHO will result in paganism as with the Episcopal denomination.

We are seeing the effects of abandoning the authority of Scripture working it's way out, logically.

[Cronos]

Thank you for that clarification. It’s crazy how these guys use scripture itself to justify themselves.

[CynicalBear]

>>you can sing along with her when she becomes your local pastoress.<<

You just can’t stop with the snarky comments can you?

[amishman]

Here’s a handy, dandy list for those of us keeping score:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_denominational_positions_on_homosexuality