Presbyterian and gay

Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: Presbyterian Church (USA)

BACKGROUND

With its roots in the 16th century teachings of John Calvin, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) boasts million members who participate in more than 10, congregations across the country. The largest Presbyterian organization in the country, the denomination was formed in when the southern-based Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS) joined the northern-based United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA) to establish a single entity. The Presbyterian Church (USA) remains distinct from the Presbyterian Church in America, which tends toward less inclusive policies.

The Presbyterian name derives from the Greek word for “elders” – lay leaders who administer the church and are chosen by its congregants. According to the denomination’s web site, elders work closely with clergy to, “exercise leadership, government, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large.” Elders serve at every level of leadership from “sessions,” which govern a single church, to “presb

Presbyterian Church (USA) Considers Forcing LGBTQ Affirmation

An increasingly revisionist Presbyterian Church (USA) will take up legislation at its th General Assembly June 25 &#; July 4 in Salt Lake City barring ordination of candidates who are not LGBTQ-affirming.

Designated OVT, the proposal, known as an overture in Presbyterian parlance, would change two sections of the PCUSA Book of Order. The first verb alters section F, “Unity in Diversity,” to read (changes in brackets):

“The unity of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the Church’s membership. In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, [gender identity, sexual orientation,] disability, geography, or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall guarantee full participation and representation in its worship, governance, and emerging life to all persons or groups within its membership. No member shall be

It&#;s time to re-open the Window on the World–our weekly opportunity to look at the world from the biblical point of view. Strangely enough, one of this summer&#;s major news stories concerned the church. On August 5, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in America voted to approve the election an openly gay priest as bishop.

Some years ago now, the priest left his wife and children to live with a homosexual partner. He did this because, in his own words, he wanted to answer “God&#;s call to acknowledge [him]self as a gay man” and to pursue a gay relationship he has described as “sacramental.”

The scrutinize is whether it is appropriate for such a man to serve as a minister of the gospel, and more specifically, as a bishop. According to the Episcopal Church, the acknowledge is yes. Not surprisingly, the Convention also declared that performing a worship service of Christian blessing for same-sex unions is “an acceptable practice within the church.”

How should Bible-believing Christians respond to what the Episcopal Church has done, and how should we talk about these issues

Carl Schlegel’s Proselytizing Makes Him the Earliest U.S. Gay Activist

November A Brooklyn Heights Presbyterian church holds a “two-hour worship service and symposium on the subject of homosexuality,” which includes a performance of part of the gay themed off-Broadway play “The Boys in the Band.” The pastor of the church, Rev. William Glenesk, claims that the sermon is necessary because “we must look at one another with love and compassion….variations of sex are not sin.” [1]

Undated The General Assembly of the United Presbyterian Church releases a statement entitled “Sexuality and the Human Community” which contains a brief section on homosexuality. While the status of homosexuality as a “sin” is maintained, the Assembly also approves a recommendation that calls for the “elimination of laws governing the private sexual behavior of consenting adults.” [2]

Undated Rev. David Bailey Sindt begins the Presbyterian Gay Caucus, which later becomes Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns (PLGC), by holding a sign at the General Assembly that asks “Is anyone else o