PUP to consider another report on human sexuality By John H. Adams The Layman Online Thursday, January 5, 2006 One of the key moments in the work of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity came at its meeting near Chicago in August 2004. The issue brought to the table then may rise again Jan. 11-13 in the task force's final meeting before the 217th General Assembly considers how to respond to the task force's report. Task force member William Stacy Johnson is scheduled to present a paper on human sexuality. Johnson's paper won't produce any editing changes for the task force's final report. The deadline for revisions is past. But it could expand the task force's talking points when its members address presbyteries between now and June 15, when the General Assembly will convene for an eight-day meeting in Birmingham. In 2004, Johnson, a professor of systematic theology at Princeton Theological Seminary, introduced a "discussion" paper that outlined a range of attitudes about ordaining practicing homosexuals. Citing the works of several writers, he noted that their attitudes ranged from regarding homosexual behavior as an absolute Biblical taboo – disqualifying from church office anyone involved in a sexual partnership outside a traditional marriage between a man and a woman – to considering same-gender sexual relationships acceptable. The thinking of the task force members then seemed to coalesce around the idea that some leeway should be granted to candidates for office who lived in "committed" same-sex relationships. That was never fully articulated, and there never was a vote in a public meeting. The task force discussed the idea briefly and then went into executive session. In its final report, the task force proposal to the General Assembly did not refer specifically to committed relationships as the guideline for considering eligibility for ordination as ministers, elders and deacons. But it did raise a rhetorical question that reflected a leaning toward sanctioning "committed" same-sex relationships: "How does God's gracious drama of creation, reconciliation, and redemption work itself out in the lives of baptized gay and lesbian persons who are committed to exclusive, covenanted relationships?" (Lines 594-596) That question came directly from Johnson's presentation, which analyzed views on ordaining homosexuals in light of creation, reconciliation and redemption. In its proposed authoritative interpretation and the rationale for that statement, the task force did not mention "committed relationships." In fact, it went further. It concluded that that sessions and presbyteries – the ordaining bodies in the Presbyterian Church (USA) – should determine on their own whether the church's prohibition against ordaining homosexuals must be followed to the letter. A key explanation of that position was outlined in the rationale for the proposed authoritative interpretation. After noting that no candidate for office perfectly fulfills all of the requirements for office, the task force rationale says: " … an authoritative interpretation binds how an ordaining/installing body interprets a standard, but it does not override that body's power to judge which matters are essential and whether any departure from nonessentials is sufficiently serious that a candidate will not be ordained or installed (lines 1259-1262). (Emphasis added.) The Layman Online tried to contact Johnson and left a message on his telephone recorder at Princeton Theological Seminary in an attempt to obtain the gist of what he intends to bring to the committee. He did not return the call. In August 2004, Johnson's paper, based on articles and book extracts by a number of theologians, sparked an intense discussion – one of the last times the PUP task force would openly talk about the hot-button issues in their assignment by the 213th General Assembly (2001). Before petering out, the discussion seemed to focus on extracts suggesting that there be some latitude in ordaining officers rather than acceptance of G-6.0106b, the constitutional "fidelity/chastity" clause in the Book of Order, as an absolute. Johnson encapsulated the readings under six classifications: 1. The prohibition view [G-6.0106b), with homosexual conduct being a perversion of God's created order; reconciliation requires homosexuals to repent; and redemption requires a return to a true heterosexual nature or abstinence from sexual relationships. 2. The definitive guidance view [the current General Assembly Authoritative Interpretation which defines homosexual behavior as sinful], in which homosexual conduct is considered a tragedy; reconciliation comes when a homosexual repents; and redemption is a product of a stoic acceptance of one's fate through abstinence. 3. The justice view regards homosexuality as being like all other conditions; reconciliation comes when heterosexuals repent of singling out homosexuals and ignoring other sins; redemption requires creating a world in which differences no longer exist. 4. The pastoral view regards the purpose of creation as "ambiguous;" reconciliation would recognize that homosexual relationships may be disobedient in form but obedient in substance; redemption comes with the recognition that exclusive, committed same-sex relationships are better than promiscuity. 5. The celebration view says homosexuality is a fact of nature (creation) to be regarded as good; reconciliation comes when homosexuals are reconciled to the goodness of their sexual orientation; redemption requires that one's sexuality is to be celebrated as God's good gift. 6. The consecration view considers homosexuality as a fact of nature (creation) that is not to be condemned but is also ambiguous, needing to be rightly ordered; reconciliation requires one to rightly order his or her life and recognizes that "our relationships are a means of grace;" redemption occurs when one's sexuality is consecrated through an exclusive, committed relationship, blessed by the church. People, not sexuality, are the focus of the celebration. Although he emphasized that the six views were only for discussion when he presented and reviewed them, Johnson clearly leaned toward the "consecration view," which, he said, has a "Trinitarian focus." Before the task force went into private meetings, two other members had favorable comments about the consecration view. John Wilkinson, a Rochester, N.Y., minister and advocate of ordaining homosexuals, said "It places the emphasis on order and plays to Calvinist leanings." Barbara Wheeler, president of Auburn Theological Seminary and also an advocate of ordaining homosexuals, said, "In this position, more is given to the doctrine of God. It even raises the question for the other positions: What's their doctrine of God."

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