[HarleyD]

"Doctrinal unity is different from impeccability. Christ's Church is a Church of sinners."

It’s one thing for the church to be made up of sinners. It’s quite another for the church to KNOW leaders in the church are not following church doctrines and ignore the problem.

Setting doctrine and then ignoring it for the sake of unity is no doctrine at all.

Church leaders are rarely punished (and in some cases encouraged) for espousing their own theology contrary to the Vatican's position. The Vatican's position is typically to turn a blind eye to the matter.

[OrthodoxPresbyterian]

"Doctrinal unity is different from impeccability. Christ's Church is a Church of sinners." ~~ AquinasFan

Setting doctrine and then ignoring it for the sake of unity is no doctrine at all. ~~ HarleyD

HarleyD is right. Setting doctrine and then ignoring it for the sake of "unity" is no doctrine at all.

I am personally aware of ONE Orthodox Presbyterian Elder who Sinned against the Seventh Commandment.

He didn't seduce any Flower Girls. He didn't SODOMIZE any Altar Boys (for which the immediate Civil Penalty should be death, not "reassignment". Or Re-Ass-ignment, which is how the Roman Church sweeps these matters under the rug and provides the Sodomites with fresh Altar Boys to pervert and destroy).

He fell into the Sin of Consensual Adultery with a Parishioner who sought his Counsel. I can "understand" that -- I've broken the Seventh Commandment myself.

But the Orthodox Presbyterian Church handled it the right way: IMMEDIATE EXCOMMUNICATION.

No Excuses. Do not pass "Go", Do not f-cking "Collect 200 Dollars". IT'S OVER.

After regularly attending Church, being Denied the Sacrament, and sweltering under the Ban of Excommunication for FOUR YEARS, his Penitence -- with his Wife's Forgiveness -- was Accepted as Valid.

The Orthodox Presbyters PERMITTED him to once again Receive the Eucharist -- on the understanding that he cannot, EVER, return to the Office of Presbyter.

He understands this, and regards this Ruling as Right and Just, and Necessary for Church Order.

And today (and I say this with knowledge, for he is a friend of mine)... he thanks God every day for his Wife's Forgiveness, the opportunity to raise his children in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and the opportunity to preach the Gospel down on the piers of Key West -- so much as His Elders will oversee and permit.

And THAT is how we take care of business in the Church of Jesus Christ.
We ain't the Church of Rome. We take this Bible stuff SERIOUSLY.

best regards, OP