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Presbyterian Church USA to ordain 1st gay
UPI.com ^ | 5 October 2011 | UPI

Posted on 10/05/2011 12:25:56 PM PDT by Cronos

A man who left the ministry 21 years ago is looking forward to becoming the first openly gay person ordained in the Presbyterian Church USA.

At the ceremony Sunday, Scott Anderson, 56, now executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, will take back the stole he wore as pastor of two Presbyterian congregations in California, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. He had donated it to Shower of Stoles, a project meant to demonstrate what the Presbyterian Church had lost by barring homosexuals from the ministry.

Anderson, who grew up in California, said he realized he was gay while he was a student at Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. But he remained in the closet for several years until he was outed in 1990 and admitted his sexual orientation to his congregation in what he calls "the best and worst moment of my life."

He remained in the Presbyterian Church even though he believed the denomination would not accept gay ministers in his lifetime. Years later, he was the only open homosexual on a national task force that eventually recommended opening the ministry to gays and lesbians.

"This has been 20 years of God surprising me, really," Anderson said.

He is to be ordained Saturday at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison. He plans to remain with the council while he decides on his next step.


TOPICS: Current Events; Mainline Protestant
KEYWORDS: lesbyterian; lesbyterianism; lesbyterians; opc; paganchurchusa; pcusa; presbyterian
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To: Cronos; Alex Murphy; RnMomof7
"This has been 20 years of God surprising me, really," Anderson said.

And I think it's safe to say God still has more surprises on the way.

21 posted on 10/05/2011 4:34:57 PM PDT by HarleyD
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To: RnMomof7
LOL

Sad, but true. I think the good thing is the churches that embrace these heresies are losing members and more conservative Bible centered churches are growing.

22 posted on 10/05/2011 4:51:05 PM PDT by wmfights (If you want change support SenateConservatives.com)
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To: Dutchboy88; Cronos
The Catholic Church has not condoned homosexual marriage, nor does it perform homosexual weddings. We are adamantly against them, the bulwark of Christianity against the world, as we always have been (remember the Islamic invasion of Europe in which we Christians battled them to a standstill at Vienna twice in a hundred years, while the Quislings of the Reformation allied with the invaders against Europe in the hopes of gleaning some scraps).

No, we leave the religious celebration of homosexual activities and marriage to the rather antiChristian

church. If I'm not mistaken, you profess to belong to that church, don't you? How much are you in agreement with them?

23 posted on 10/05/2011 6:09:52 PM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde

This is one denomination, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. I believe it has the most members of the Presbyterian denominations.

Other Presbyterian denominations in this area include the Presbyterian Church in America, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.

We have a large, old PCUSA church in the county, as well as two newer, smaller ones. I hear the larger church’s sermons on the radio occasionally; they are conservative and have been fighting the gay agenda for many years. The current ministers are wonderful. They feel led to remain in the denomination, trying to change minds from within.

PCUSA and its predecessors (there was some sort of merger two or three decades ago) have been “mainstream” since shortly after WWII. The National Council of Churches and all that garbage.

I grew up Presbyterian and would love to join the larger county church, but they are required to provide the denomination’s medical package to their employees ... and it includes abortion. So I don’t join and I don’t donate.

Wikipedia has a chart with many more denominations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Connection2_900.jpg


24 posted on 10/05/2011 7:52:58 PM PDT by Tea Party Hobbit (The RINOs lack all conviction, and the Dems are full of passionate intensity)
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To: RnMomof7
PCUSA has not been a 'reformed" (calvinist ) denomination for many many years

LOL ... where do you think they came from?

they have steadily moved to Rome

LOL again. Call me when they develop auricular confession, a male-only celibate priesthood, male-only celibate bishops in Apostolic succession, and transubstantiation. Oh, and when they give up the sola scriptura fable.

They've no more "moved to Rome" than they've moved to Rangoon or Melbourne or Moscow. Their apostasy is their own, an apostasy that grew out of the Reformation.

Anyone that is saved flees from them , just as they do Rome

What about the people who are humble enough to let God do the judging? Where do they flee? Certainly not to the Presbyterians.

25 posted on 10/05/2011 9:59:37 PM PDT by Campion ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies when they become fashions." -- GKC)
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To: count-your-change
Too common amongst the Roman priesthood to even merit a mention

The ordination of even chaste homosexual men is prohibited by Rome.

The ordination of openly unchaste homosexuals is celebrated by the PCUSA.

You really don't see a difference?

26 posted on 10/05/2011 10:02:13 PM PDT by Campion ("Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies when they become fashions." -- GKC)
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To: Campion

Since there is such a large number of homosexual Catholic priests the difference would seem to one homosexual ordained openly versus untold numbers ordained quietly out of the public eye.

Yeah, I can see the difference but the rot looks exactly the same.


27 posted on 10/05/2011 10:33:35 PM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: count-your-change; Campion

And what about your Jehovah’s Witnesses scandal cases, cyc?


28 posted on 10/06/2011 1:44:35 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: RnMomof7; Campion
The PCUSA are Presbyterian like your little cult the OPC is based on. Only your OPC cult went further and rejected Christ and the Trinity completely in favor of its polytheism and Brahmin ideology

No wonder your pastors perform gay marriages and are these kind of perverts.

your group is going to heck for rejecting Christ and His teachings

Your OPC is a rabidly anti-Semitic group that has lately been trying to promote it's anti-Israeli message on FR with posts like:

  1. Easter greetings from Israel - a hoax video aiming to smear Jews and that is as disgusting as the Protocols of the Elders
  2. Jerusalem, the have-not whore
  3. Israel -- where there is a comparison of Biblical Israel to Modern Israel -- and you can guess it's not a pleasant one
  4. All Israel will be Saved, but not all Israel
  5. Jerusalem, Mother of all Harlots
  6. The restoration and conversion of Israel -- this soon descends into a fre for all anti-semitic fest

What is disgusting is that this group (the OPC/PCA) pretends to be Christian while spouting it's hatred for Jews and Christians alike

29 posted on 10/06/2011 1:46:46 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: RnMomof7; Campion
your group, rnMomof7, may pretend to be Protestant, which is a joke as Protestants are our Christian brothers, but under this mask, this group of leftists the OPC says the following about Christians as well

:

  1. Hatred for Pentecostals and Methodists -- calling them
    1. of a failure to grasp the Biblical teaching concerning the history of salvation.
    2. saying that Methodists and Pentecostals worship the gospel of Satan -- a very serious and false allegation
    3. as damnable heretics
  2. of course we know that their group hates Pentecostals as much as Catholics,and their group believe us to be no different
  3. Against Lutherans -- accusing them of liberalism and not following Martin Luther
  4. Against Adventists - accusing them of being the same as Mormons and Jehovah's witnesses
  5. Against Orthodox, trying to say they don't have charity
  6. Against Christian martyrs in Pakistan -- Shahbaz Bhatti
  7. against Jews - no celebrating with Jewish friends, eh?

This an entire cover-up of religion to keep their group's true agenda of fomenting discord -- just like the Westboro Baptist Club

30 posted on 10/06/2011 1:47:52 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: RnMomof7; Campion

In fact anyone living in Finney’s burned-over district should know that their jump from Christianity to the OPC is just as silly as the burn-overs in the 1800s.


31 posted on 10/06/2011 1:52:53 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: RnMomof7; Campion; MarkBsnr
Mark did a great analysis showing that your cult, rnmomof7 is not Christian

Let us take the Nicene Creed and compare with the OPC's beliefs:

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.

So far, the OPC is on track.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, one in Being with the Father.

Well, not really; they think of Jesus as a lesser God than the Father. The OPC says that:

Jesus is God's doorway through the wall. God appointed his Son to be the substitute for those whom he would save. Jesus loved the Father with every fiber of his being. He obeyed the Father's holy will completely. He died on Calvary's cross as the atoning sacrifice, bearing all the sins of his people. He rose again from the dead and was exalted to the place of glory at the Father's side.

For the OPC, Jesus is a lesser or messenger god to God the Father, much like Mercury was the messenger of Jupiter in the Roman Pantheon of gods. This is not Christian.

As well, The OPC says that:

Christ is, in reality, the one true worshiper.[5] Our worship is a participation in his. Further, our worship in Christ is by the Holy Spirit.

Here, the OPC says that Christ worships God the Father, and the Holy Spirit worships Christ. Not Trinitarian, but polytheist.

Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary,

Here, they more or less agree with Christianity.

and became man.

Here, they depart from Christianity inasmuch as Christianity believes that Jesus is fully God and fully man at the same time.

The OPC says:

"The Son of Man"

Jesus affirms that he is "the Son of Man." This was his favorite self-designation. The Gospels mention his calling himself the Son of Man some eighty times. William White, Jr., explains that this title reflects Daniel 7:13, where the "Son of Man" is one to whom is given universal and eternal authority, glory, and sovereign dominion. He is one from among men to whom is given divine prerogatives. Since only God can receive such prerogatives, the Son of Man is a God-man (Daniel 10:16). Thus, the Son of Man, Jesus, descended from heaven (John 3:13) and was dependent on God, as He had nowhere to lay His head (Matt. 8:20). He exercises an authoritative and redemptive mission (John 3:14). He is the universal Lord (Matt. 28:18; cf. Dan. 7:13-14) and has total responsibility and authority for judging the world (Matt. 13:41-42; 19:28). (Theological and Grammatical Phrasebook of the Bible, p. 102 [Moody Press, 1984]. Cf. Geerhardus Vos, The Self-Disclosure of Jesus [Eerdmans, 1954].)

So when Jesus calls himself the Son of Man, he does much more than identify himself as having a human nature. He reveals himself as God incarnated as the Last Adam, the true Man, the Man of God's right hand, the Messiah, the King, the Savior, Lord, and Judge! Compare Daniel 7:9-14 and Revelation 1:12-18. It's an amazing claim.

It sure is. It affirms that the OPC believes that Jesus is a lesser God - is totally dependent upon God and therefore is not the God of Christianity, but a messenger or harbinger, much like John the Baptist was for Jesus.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

Okay in this section.

He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,

Here we come to a major parting of the ways between the OPC and Christianity. The OPC says that:

The resurrection of the dead in general, therefore, is primarily a judicial act of God."[13] Stated simply, the resurrection is not the penultimate event prior to the final judgment; the resurrection is the final judgment.

This little piece of paganism is the source for so many of the nonChristian pronouncements of OPC adherents. Can you imagine a greater departure from the Gospel message of Jesus? Resurrection is a replacement for Judgement and if you are resurrected, you will not go to hell!!!! Now, what about those going to hell? More on that later...

and his kingdom will have no end.

They do agree that Jesus will reign forever.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son.

See above. The OPC believes that Jesus worships God the Father and the Holy Spirit worships Jesus.

He has spoken through the Prophets.

The OPC really likes its Prophets - if it weren't for Paul, their theology would consist of Isaiah with a splash of Jeremiah.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.

Absolutely not. "Catholic" is redefined as Calvinist, and the Apostles are irrelevant since they are all long dead.

We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.

The OPC touches on it in several articles on their site, blathering on, and talking around the point, rather than to it, but the final conclusion is that they do not believe that baptism is in any way connected with the forgiveness of sins.

We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.

There are several articles on the OPC website which affirm the resurrection of the dead, and then speak as if it weren't there or it didn't matter. Of course, it might just be the writers' confusion over just who is going to be resurrected (prejudged to salvation) and who isn't (see above). After all if the Calvinists believe that the act of resurrection is a substitute for the Judgement of God, then nobody in hell gets Judged in the Calvinist universe, right? And nowhere in Christianity does it state anything about the resurrection of those Judged to Heaven versus the non resurrection of those Judged to hell. In Calvinism, those prejudged to hell do not get resurrected at all. Cronos, my friend, you are absolutely spot on in that the OPC on its own website brags about its nonChristian beliefs. And its followers would have us believe that it is Christian. Based on what?


32 posted on 10/06/2011 1:53:53 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: Cronos

At least a third of the Catholic priests being homosexuals and a couple billion dollar payout for sexual misconduct, ...I don’t think anyone could match that.

But if you want to compare someone else to that, have at it.


33 posted on 10/06/2011 2:31:22 AM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: count-your-change
At least a third

Firstly, your post is lying

SEcondly, your Jehovah's Witnesses leaders and communes are filled with perverts.

34 posted on 10/06/2011 4:39:03 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: count-your-change

Furthermore, as a jehovah’s Witness, what’s the explanation for the myriad prophecies of doomsday? The next date is 2012 — how many times do the Jehovah’s Witnesses change and rechange that date? What a scam cult


35 posted on 10/06/2011 4:40:23 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: Campion; RnMomof7
LOL again. Call me when they develop auricular confession, a male-only celibate priesthood, male-only celibate bishops in Apostolic succession, and transubstantiation. Oh, and when they give up the sola scriptura fable.

They've no more "moved to Rome" than they've moved to Rangoon or Melbourne or Moscow. Their apostasy is their own, an apostasy that grew out of the Reformation.

Standing ovation. There are no Presbyterian or Calvinist groups that remotely resemble Christianity that I am aware of. They merely use some of the same nomenclature with differing definitions.

36 posted on 10/06/2011 4:41:04 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: Cronos

My friend, you do me much credit and I thank you for it. But anyone who climbs into an environmental suit and wades into the OPC swamp could have made the same analysis and conclusions.


37 posted on 10/06/2011 4:43:17 AM PDT by MarkBsnr (I would not believe in the Gospel, if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: count-your-change

Furthermore, as a jehovah’s Witness, what’s the explanation for the myriad prophecies of doomsday? The next date is 2012 — how many times do the Jehovah’s Witnesses change and rechange that date? What a scam cult


38 posted on 10/06/2011 5:07:59 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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To: Cronos

That’s not lying, that’s being conservative since Catholic experts put the figure higher yet. And I cannot take what you say seriously enough to even hit the abuse button.

What others do or do not is really irrelevant to the point, and so are your comments, as always.

Next time bring a bone with some meat on it.


39 posted on 10/06/2011 5:25:03 AM PDT by count-your-change (You don't have to be brilliant, not being stupid is enough.)
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To: count-your-change
Actually that post is lying. your Jehovah's Witnesses leaders and communes are filled with perverts.

What others do or do not is really irrelevant to the point, ==> oooh -- so does that mean that everything you post that is not Jehovahs' witness related is also irrelevant?

40 posted on 10/06/2011 5:50:45 AM PDT by Cronos (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2787101/posts?page=58#58)
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