Pro-gay ordination
activists
seek repeal of '78 guidance
By John H.
Adams
The Layman
Online
Wednesday, May 12,
2004
Presbyterians who seek
the repeal of the denomination's "fidelity/chastity"
ordination standard in the denomination's constitution also want to
nullify the authoritative interpretation – or definitive guidance –
that was first adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1978.
The guidance section is relatively brief. But the General Assembly then –
and later, after the reunion of the Northern and Southern mainline
denominations – approved a lengthy report that spells out the
theological reasons for not ordaining practicing homosexuals.
The report was grounded in Scripture but also considered insights from
contemporary scientific work. It was pastoral in tone, supported of
civil rights for homosexuals and called on the church to treat
homosexual people with dignity.
But it also advised Presbyterians not to redefine God's holiness in
light of contemporary culture.
"The church that destroys the balance between Word and Spirit, so
carefully constructed by the Reformers to insure that we follow none
other than Jesus Christ who is the Word, will soon lose its Christian
substance and become indistinguishable from the world," the 1978
report said. "We have been charged to seek 'new light from God's
Word,' not 'new light' contrary to God's Word."
The entire text of that 12-page, 5,500-word "Policy
Statement and Recommendations" is now available on The Layman
Online.
The essence of the statement is its brief paragraph on church policy:
- "That unrepentant homosexual practice does not accord with
the requirements for ordination set forth in Form of Government,
Chapter VII, Section 3 (37.03): ... 'It is indispensable that,
besides possessing the necessary gifts and abilities, natural and
acquired, everyone undertaking a particular ministry should have a
sense of inner persuasion, be sound in the faith, live according to
godliness, have the approval of God's people and the concurring
judgment of a lawful judicatory of the Church."
The following are some excerpts from the report:
- "… although homosexual affectional preference is not
always the result of conscious choice, it may be interpreted as part
of the involuntary and often unconscious drive away from God's
purposes that characterizes fallen human nature, falling short of
God's intended patterns for human sexuality."
- "Human sexuality has a dynamic quality. Within the
constraints of nature, nurture serves to transform both sexual
identity and intersexual preference. Our sexuality is vulnerable to
shaping influences from many directions."
- The "Genesis account of the creation of humankind …
speaks of the precious and precarious balance of male and female
life together that perpetually needs both our affirmation and God's
upholding grace. Genesis offers polemic against deviations from the
wise separation of humankind into man and woman. It is this
separation that makes union possible."
- We conclude that homosexuality is not God's wish for humanity.
This we affirm, despite the fact that some of its forms may be
deeply rooted in an individual's personality structure. Some persons
are exclusively homosexual in orientation. In many cases
homosexuality is more a sign of the brokenness of God's world than
of willful rebellion. In other cases homosexual behavior is freely
chosen or learned in environments where normal development is
thwarted. Even where the homosexual orientation has not been
consciously sought or chosen, it is neither a gift from God nor a
state nor a condition like race; it is a result of our living in a
fallen world."
- Where do we find norms for authentic life, which in truth
transcend the conditioning of history and culture, and the power to
live by them? We dare begin no other place than with the living
Word, Jesus Christ, who in risen power transcends time and space and
the limitations of our values, norms, and assumptions to confront,
judge, and redeem us."
- Homosexual persons who will strive toward God's revealed will in
this area of their lives and make use of all the resources of grace,
can receive God's power to transform their desires or arrest their
active expression."
- "… the New Testament declares that all homosexual
practice is incompatible with Christian faith and life. No
Scriptures speak of homosexuality as granted by God. No Scriptures
permit or condone any of the forms of homosexuality. In Matthew
19:1-12, Jesus reaffirms God's intention for sexual intercourse,
enduring marriage between husband and wife, and affirms godly
celibacy for those not entering the marriage covenant."
- "Behavior that is pleasing to God cannot simply be defined
as that which pleases others or expresses our own strong needs and
identity; it must flow out of faithful and loving obedience to God."
- "The church that destroys the balance between Word and
Spirit, so carefully constructed by the Reformers to insure that we
follow none other than Jesus Christ who is the Word, will soon lose
its Christian substance and become indistinguishable from the world.
We have been charged to seek 'new light from God's Word,' not 'new
light' contrary to God's Word."
- Persons who manifest homosexual behavior must be treated with the
profound respect and pastoral tenderness due all people of God.
There can be no place within the Christian faith for the response to
homosexual persons of mingled contempt, hatred, and fear that is
called homophobia.
- "There is room in the church for all who give honest
affirmation to the vows required for membership in the church.
Homosexual persons who sincerely affirm 'Jesus Christ is my lord and
Savior' and 'I intend to be his disciple, to obey his word, and to
show his love' should not be excluded from membership.
- "For the church to ordain a self-affirming, practicing
homosexual person to ministry would be to act in contradiction to
its charter and calling in Scripture, setting in motion both within
the church and society serious contradictions to the will of Christ."
- "The repentant homosexual person who finds the power of
Christ redirecting his or her sexual desires toward a married
heterosexual commitment, or finds God's power to control his or her
desires and to adopt a celibate lifestyle, can certainly be
ordained, all other qualifications being met. Indeed, such
candidates must be welcomed and be free to share their full
identity."
- "On the basis of our understanding that the practice of
homosexuality is sin, we are concerned that homosexual believers and
the observing world should not be left in doubt about the church's
mind on this issue during any further period of study."
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