While supporters of gay ordination say a recent vote by the highest governing body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gives the green light for gay clergy, one professor is arguing that the decision changes nothing.
In a soon-to-be published analysis, Dr. Robert A. J. Gagnon, associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, said he believes there is a "reasonable possibility" that the actions by the 218th General Assembly of the PC(USA) last weekend in favor of homosexuality "will have no material effect on changing the denomination's stance against ordaining, unrepentant, homosexually active persons to church office."
During the biennial meeting in San Jose, Calif., the Assembly on June 27 approved an "authoritative interpretation" (A.I.) of the church constitution – which currently bans ordaining non-celibate gays and lesbians. The vote would allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination to conscientiously object the current standard requiring fidelity in marriage (between a man and a woman) and chastity in singleness. And the local ordaining body would be required to discern whether the declared objection is disqualifying and consider such requests on a case-by-case basis.
An authoritative interpretation does not change the church constitution and is thus effective immediately.
Gay advocates in the denomination praised the decision and some believe gays and lesbians can be ordained now.
Gagnon, however, has reason to believe otherwise.
He argues that nothing in the language of the authoritative interpretation states that "a higher governing body cannot overturn the ordination or installation decision of a lower governing body when the lower governing body 'ignores or waives a specific standard that has been adopted by the whole church.'"
Earlier this year, the PC(USA)'s high court – the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission – ruled that candidates for ordination must follow the sexual behavior standards of fidelity and chastity and no ordaining body has the right to ordain a candidate in violation of those constitutional standards. The ruling was issued in February in a case involving the Presbytery of Pittsburgh.
Although reports indicate that the new authoritative interpretation supersedes that ruling, Gagnon argues that “a careful examination of the text of the 2008 A.I., piece by piece” shows that it actually does not overturn the GAPJC decision.
Additionally, he says "nothing" in the wording of the 2008 A.I. prevents the high court from coming to the same conclusion – of disallowing any departure from the fidelity and chastity standard – in future cases.
Nevertheless, the Pittsburgh professor cannot guarantee that the high court will rule similarly in future cases, but he says "they should."
For now, he and others in the denomination opposing gay ordination will just have to "adopt a wait-and-see approach to future GAPJC cases," he said.
The PC(USA) has been debating ordination standards for three decades. Among other more radical actions the 218th General Assembly approved was a proposal to delete the fidelity and chastity standard from the church constitution. The nation's 173 presbyteries, or regional church bodies, will be voting over the next year on whether to give their approval for the proposed deletion, which would have a huge impact.
But many believe the required majority approval by the presbyteries is unlikely as they had rejected such efforts to drop the gay ordination ban both in 1997 and 2001.
Comments
"In 20 years we will look back and be amazed at how interested we all were in what people do in their own bedrooms (or someplace else, for that matter). Find another topic!"
They can do what they want to in their bedrooms. It's in public in front of my children I have a problem with. It's us as a democracy saying it's OK I have a problem with (which is a public thing).
Gee, I wish I knew as much as you do, REDHEADEDWARRIOR. And you sound like such a sensible, balanced person.
Without reading every last word of this article, it stands to reason that the PCUSA HAS quickly fallen APOSTATE. After 9-11 many began quoting the Koran and using its analogies as a sister parellel relgion.. FALSE.
It cannot be said of any mainline Christian Church that they are for God and HIS HOLY ORDINANCES if.. they adopt the installation of actively gay PASTORS, DEACONS, STEPHEN MINISTERS, and lay workers. This is dead work, and false seeding.
Repentive hearts lead to repentive actions. AGreed, GOD CANNOT OCCUPY UN-HOLY UN-RIGHTEOUS GROUND AS HE IS HOLY.
Where HE IS .. a new creature abounds. Our sin nature becomes less and less, and more Christ-like.
I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST, who IS IN ME.<><
I'll admit I am drawn to these gay-themed op-ed columns. They really bring out the nuts!
In 20 years we will look back and be amazed at how interested we all were in what people do in their own bedrooms (or someplace else, for that matter). Find another topic!
Honestly, seeing the word "gay" and "christian" used together is such a contradiction of terms. Nothing gay is anything Christian and vice versa. The Presbyterian Church frankly is no longer under the covering of God I would say. God cannot dwell where sin is.
Rom 3:9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
lets call it like it is.
God calls all to repentance and to turn to Righteousness and away from sin.
Gays calls all to non-repentance and to turn to sin, un-righteous living.
That means instead of being Reconciled to God through Jesus Christ our beloved Messiah by Faith, we should instead be in Rebellion toward God and make our own beliefs that satisfy our desires.
They HAVE their own churches. But apparently they still want to feel accepted and so attend true Christian churches and infect them with the spirit of tolerance over truth.
All I can say is, :all of you at the GA who approved this,"DO NOT LOOK BACK, YOU MAY BE TURNED INTO A PILLAR OF SALT" Why can't the gay "christians" create their own Presbyterian churches instead of destroying the ones already in place. The Bible warns us of false teachers and preachers, and it is our own fault if we follow them, because we have been warned they were coming to destroy God's churches. It's not just the Presbyterian churches. They are trying to infest all faiths and congregations, by calling us non christian because we don't accept them as leaders of our faith. We are to accept and love them as sinners;nothing more. They are not better than us and we are not better than them. We are equal in God's eyes, but a minister is held to a higher standard and not everyone qualifies for the title, even those with theological degrees must be diligently approved to serve God's church and God's people.Now anybody can profess to be a minister. If our Presbytery approves this, my family will have to leave the church. People are not leaving the Presbyterian church because of this reason. The GA needs to wake up!!It's your churches and programs that are outdated!!Thank You and God Bless.
Nothing has changed as far as the Word of God is concerned, homosexuality is still an abomination in the sight of God.
And at the same time I must say that God will forgive any who repent and come out of homosexuality. Jesus shed His Blood for all sinners,
That means me, you and whosoever will repent and turn to Him.