Same-sex unions debated
By
John H. Adams
The
Layman Online
Tuesday,
June 27, 2000
LONG
BEACH, Calif. -- Testifying before the General Assembly's
Committee on Physical and Spiritual Well-Being Monday,
homosexual activists and their allies called on the
Presbyterian Church (USA) to turn aside overtures that would
prohibit pastors from performing same-sex unions.
But those who favor the overtures -- which would call for a
national referendum on conducting services to bless homosexual
couples -- challenged the idea that ministers should be
allowed to bless what God has not blessed. They also
challenged the gays to provide Biblical and confessional
support for same-sex unions, but none was offered.
The hearing attracted a standing-room-only crowd.
Some of the speakers and their comments:
- The Rev. Joe Gilmore, of Hudson River Presbytery, which
became the focus of a church trial that was finally
decided by the General Assembly's Permanent Judicial
Commission: "We have been vindicated by the PJC,"
said Gilmore, who has conducted numerous same-sex "marriages"
(his word).
- The Rev. John Walton, Westminster Presbyterian Church,
Wilmington, Del.: "Marriage in the Book of Order
is defined by commitment -- not by sexuality."
- Byron Shaeffer: "Pastors and sessions must have
pastoral discretion about what to bless and what not to
bless."
- Grace Eisenhower, retired clergy: "That lifestyle
cannot be holy. If their call were true, it would be to
serve the Lord Jesus Christ, to be obedient."
- Harold M. Brockus, pastor of a Presbyterian-United
Church of Christ congregation in Pinellas Park, Fla.: "I
have joyfully participated in holy unions. Now I feel like
the circumcision party is trying to prohibit them."
- Jack Sharpe, elder, Carlisle Presbyterian Church in
Pennsylvania: "God has blessed marriage. We can't
have counterfeits."
- Dr. Joseph Nicolosi, a psychiatrist who is executive
director of the National Association for the Research and
Therapy of Homosexuality, disputed assertions by many gays
that their sexual orientation is genetically determined
and, therefore, a gift of God. He cited a recent report
that disclosed more than 800 homosexuals had experienced
significant change during counseling.
- Mary Brondyke of the Boston Presbytery asked the
committee: "Do you have the authority to speak on
something that Christ has not spoken on?"
- Rob Hills, an elder from the Presbytery of Cliff Hills,
said prohibiting same-sex unions was comparable to "the
religion wars, the Spanish Inquisition and the jailing of
Galileo" -- "for homosexuals are the beloved
children of God."
- Maria Cardenas, an elder who is involved in the
ministry of OneByOne -- which seeks to help gays out of
their lifestyle -- said sanctioning same-sex unions "would
send the wrong message to those who struggle with their
lifestyle. It would hinder their opportunity to discover
the transforming power of God."
- Darrell Fisher-Ogden, a minister in Las Vegas, said, "I
grieve that these people are not listening to God. God
calls us as we are, but he doesn't leave us there. He
calls them to a holy life."
- Sharon Davison, a New York City attorney and
Presbyterian elder, who represented Christ Church in the
ecclesiastical court case, said the effort to prohibit
same-sex unions was part of a growing movement to exclude
gays from membership in the PCUSA.
- Nancy Naegle, a San Francisco minister, urged the
committee to observe the difference between pastoral
ministry (accepting people) and teaching ministry -- "proclaiming
the truth, in which we are called to be captive to the
Word of God."
- Tim Fearer of the Presbytery of South Dakota: "Please
do not settle for same sex and put hope to death."
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