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The Presbyterian Church (USA) & homosexuality

Statements on homosexuality: 2000 to now.

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Statements on homosexuality 2000 to now:

• 2000: On 2000-DEC-6, 113 presbytery executives and other officers signed "A Call to the Church." It acknowledges an attempt by the Presbyterian Coalition, the Covenant Network, and the More Light Presbyterians to sit down together and "seek the mind of Christ Jesus for our life in the PC(USA)." They continue:

  "We believe the Church we love has a future, but it will not be by determining winners and losers. It will be determined by seeking a third way. We envision a third way which can come only from an openness to the Spirit. We will rely on God's grace and refuse to leave the table until a way is discovered. We believe seeking a third way is critical and is already present among us."

  Their document cites Isaiah 43:18-19, James 4:1-2a and Philippians 2:1-5 from the New Revised Standard Version.
  
  "We urge all leaders and members to continue what has begun and to help us find a third way. That way cannot be dictated by deadlines. The direction we seek will not come by judicial or legislative actions. It will come only by seeking the mind of Christ in prayer and discussion together. Such efforts will help us prepare for the General Assembly meeting in Louisville and take us far beyond.
  
  We, ourselves, covenant to look for a third way. In each of our presbyteries and with each other, we will gather at a common table to pray and talk together We promise not to leave the table before a direction emerges. We believe that the peace, unity and purity of the church becomes a reality as we all gather around God's Table in communion as sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus." ₁

  2001: The initiative "A Call to the Church." which was created by presbytery executives and other officers was welcomed by the gay-positive Covenant Network ₂ and More Light Presbyterians. It was rejected by the five Presbyterian Coalition leaders involved in the Coalition-Network Bible study meetings. The leaders issued a statement saying: 

"Involvement in the issues of our day and church, including meeting with those with whom we disagree, has never been, nor is it now, about our way, or their way, or some other third way which might be mutually satisfying. Rather it is about Christ's way. Alone. Therefore, we have not, and we will not, engage in any search for an alternative to Scripture's clear and plain teaching." ₃

• 2004: The General Assembly called for "theological reflection groups" to study issues troubling the denomination. These have been established within congregations, among ministers, affinity groups, and presbyteries.
  
• 2006: The 2001 General Assembly had authorized the creation of a "Theological Task force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church." Their final report, titled "A Season of Discernment" was approved by the 2006 General Assembly. They devoted over 100 pages to "Sexuality and Ordination." The Task Force concluded that the matter of homosexuality is not a simple topic where people are either for or against equal rights for sexual minorities. They cited one resource that defined six different approaches to homosexuality. They found that theologians who interpreted scripture similarly had different views of homosexuality. They did reach agreement on some matters:
  • The church cannot deny baptism, church membership, or pastoral care to homosexuals.
  • Ordination should be denied to anyone who demonstrates licentious behavior.
  • Sexual behavior is not a purely personal matter. It is integral to Christian discipleship, leadership and community life.
  • Celibate homosexuals and bisexuals are not barred from consideration for ordination.
  • An up-down vote leading to a winner-take-all resolution to controversial can escalate conflicts rather than resolve them.
  • Ordaining bodies in the denomination cannot "dispense with the church's [ordination] standards or promulgate their own."
  • "Every ordaining/installing body, in every case, must decide what departures can be tolerated and which are so serious that essential matters of faith and practice are compromised." This is, in essence, a form of a local option, allowing bodies in different areas of the country to ordain candidates who are involved in same-sex committed relationships.

Internet and media references:

1. "113 Presbytery executives call for a way out of sexuality debates," PCUSA News, 2000-DEC-21. It is available online at: http://www.covenantnetwork.org/
2. "Covenant Network welcomes Executive Presbyters' call to the church," at: http://www.covenantnetwork.org/
3. Jerry L. Van Marter, "Vote on same-sex union amendment will be close, early returns indicate. Presbytery executives' 'third way' proposal gets mixed reaction," 2001-JAN-23, at: http://www.concordtx.org/

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