Moderator still favors ordination of homosexuals, theological diversity John H. Adams The Layman Online Tuesday, June 15, 1999
Oldenburg was interviewed by The Charlotte Observer recently after preaching at Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he served as pastor before becoming president of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga. Moderators of the PCUSA are elected for one-year terms. Oldenburg's term of office will end upon the election of a new moderator on the first day of business at the Fort Worth Assembly. Disagrees with outcome of vote In his interview with The Observer, Oldenburg said he disagreed with the outcome of the national vote that placed in the PCUSA constitution a clause that requires candidates for office to limit their sexual activity to marriage. "I disagreed with that when it was put in the constitution," he said. "I still disagree with it. I believe it [ordination] ought to be up to presbyteries and congregations. But I'm a Presbyterian. And we promise each other subjection to the Lord . So I'm willing to abide by the decision of the larger body. So we're going to have to revisit that issue." The issue will be revisited quickly after Oldenburg's term ends. Two overtures before the General Assembly call for removing the constitutional standard. Another calls for changing the language so that it would be unenforceable. Another overture would call on the General Assembly and other church bodies not to oppose therapy to change the sexual preferences of homosexuals. 'Have to recognize diversity' On diversity, Oldenburg told The Observer, "We have certainly, in our denomination, recognized gender and racial diversity as assets, though sometimes we don't demonstrate it. But I believe we also have to recognize theological diversity. I don't want a church all like me." Another overture before the 1999 General Assembly would require diversity through the use of inclusive language with ministers required to use male and female references to God. Oldenburg has shown staunch support for diversity through his backing of the National Network of Presbyterian College Women. The Network's agenda has focused on the theology promoted by the ReImagining God movement, including worshipping God as "Christa … the primeval mother." Oldenburg was the key person in getting a task force that reviewed the Network's programs and resources to recommend that the General Assembly double its financial support for the Network despite the task force's conclusion that the Network violated theological and constitutional standards of the PCUSA. Membership losses vs. 'thinking faith' Oldenburg told The Observer that membership losses in the PCUSA did not seem as important as having a "thinking faith." "We're not losing as many as we used to," he said. "It used to be 30,000 or 40,000 or 50,000 a year. Now it's 20,000. The Presbyterian Church has to be what it is. It is a church that has placed great importance on loving God with the mind, a thinking faith. That isn't going to be attractive to everyone." He also told the newspaper that he supports a proposal to build more than 300 racial/ethnic congregations in the next 10 years. "That has to be one of the great challenges before our church," he said. The culture is becoming more racially diverse. The data is overwhelming. And our church needs to reach out to our brothers and sisters. We don't have a good record at doing that." |
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articles Moderator election ranked fourth on Top 10 list Overtures: PCUSA should not support sexual orientation conversion therapies Overture defends sexual orientation therapies Overture: Enforcing inclusive God-language 'Coming Out Day' service held at Columbia Seminary – index of coverage Good news is that PCUSA membership losses decline National Network of Presbyterian College Women – index of coverage 1999 General Assembly issues The Top Ten issues at the 211th General Assembly Capsule reports on the past 10 General Assemblies |
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