By Bill Sherman, Tulsa World (Oklahoma)
Pastors and lay leaders in the Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted this week against a proposed change in the denomination’s constitution that would recognize same-sex marriage.
Meeting in Bristow, the presbytery voted 46 to 33, with one abstention, against the change that would no longer define marriage as the union of a man and a woman, but as a “unique commitment between two people.”
The presbytery — 65 churches in the eastern third of Oklahoma — is one of 172 presbyteries voting on the change over the next several months, said the Rev. Greg Coulter, general presbyter.
In a surprise announcement during the debate before the vote, the Rev. Todd Freeman, pastor of College Hill Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, said for the first time publicly that he is gay.
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And if the constitutional change passes, Coulter said, local church pastors and elders will still have that discretion.
“Nothing binds the minister or a session, in terms of the use of its property,” he said.
That’s a joke, the presbytery did not feel this way when Kirk of the Hills had to pay 1.7 million dollars to keep it’s own property when they went to EPC. As far as gay marraige the issue is not settled in Oklahoma. Alot of wishfull thinking going on here!
If there has been an “authoritatve interpretation” as they call it handed down why is there a vote? The decision has already been made. God gave us an “authoritative interpretation” over 2000 years ago called The Bible. I agree with James H. above, about the property. Our small church also had to pay the PCUSA a large amount of money to keep property that was purchased and paid for in 1861by the founders, to move to a denomination that honors God’s word. I think that is called extortion.
Todd Freeman’s actions raises a question I have had for years:
Rev. Saphr argued during the G-6.01016b days that she was not bound by the ordination vow of celibacy and fidelity because her ordination pre-dated it, and she did not take that vow.
Don’t know Rev. Freeman’s status/age/etc so this is more a general question…but has there been any discussion of what to do with people who have taken those vows before God but now choose to openly admit they are not living under them?
How can Saphr claim she was exempt from the vows, but then reverse course and say that for people ordained under 6b are also free?
Patti- I think the bigger issue is that if the same sex “marriage” amendment is defeated, all the ceremonies performed under the “authoritative interpretation” will be invalid. What happens then?
About 3 years ago, we left the PCUSA for a Missouri Lutheran Church that believes as the Bible is written. No Gay ministers and no same sex marriages
Forgot to mention that we were members for 48 years.
Patti wrote, “Our small church also had to pay the PCUSA a large amount of money to keep property that was purchased and paid for in 1861by the founders, to move to a denomination that honors God’s word. I think that is called extortion.”
I call it perverted.
One abstention? That sums up the entire PCUSA! LOL!!!
Once again the PCUSA has shown they have no spine. They will never realize that you can love someone without conforming to their set of rules. Biblical truths tell you that marriage is between a man and a woman and until someone can convince me otherwise thats all I need. Why are we sending candidates to seminaries that convolute the Bible i will never know. The PCUSA won this vote on the premise that they get rid of as many people as possible to swing the vote. I see the PCUSA as dying as it is in the negative categories every year. A minority has taken over the PCUSA because its members were passive.