Presbyterian gay marriage
Stances of Faiths on LGBTQ+ Issues: Presbyterian Church (USA)
BACKGROUND
With its roots in the 16th century teachings of John Calvin, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) boasts million members who participate in more than 10, congregations across the country. The largest Presbyterian organization in the country, the denomination was formed in when the southern-based Presbyterian Church in the U.S. (PCUS) joined the northern-based United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. (UPCUSA) to form a unpartnered entity. The Presbyterian Church (USA) remains distinct from the Presbyterian Church in America, which tends toward less inclusive policies.
The Presbyterian call derives from the Greek word for “elders” – lay leaders who regulate the church and are chosen by its congregants. According to the denomination’s web site, elders work closely with clergy to, “exercise leadership, government, and discipline and acquire responsibilities for the life of a particular church as well as the church at large.” Elders serve at every level of leadership from “sessions,” which govern a single church, to “presb
Presbyterian Church (USA) Considers Forcing LGBTQ Affirmation
An increasingly revisionist Presbyterian Church (USA) will take up legislation at its th General Assembly June 25 &#; July 4 in Salt Lake City barring ordination of candidates who are not LGBTQ-affirming.
Designated OVT, the plan, known as an overture in Presbyterian parlance, would change two sections of the PCUSA Book of Order. The first switch alters section F, “Unity in Diversity,” to scan (changes in brackets):
“The oneness of believers in Christ is reflected in the rich diversity of the Church’s membership. In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, [gender identity, sexual orientation,] disability, geography, or theological conviction. There is therefore no place in the life of the Church for discrimination against any person. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) shall guarantee complete participation and representation in its worship, governance, and emerging life to all persons or groups within its membership. No member shall be By George Sayour | August 31, July, Church Family, I want to write you today about some things I believe to be true. I do not inscribe as one speaking for the entire church body or the even the entirety of our church’s leadership, but speaking purely for myself and speaking as your pastor. I think it would be helpful at this point for me to transmit with clarity where I personally stand on some of the issues taken up recently by our denomination and to give with you how I know those convictions to impact my ministry with you and our shared ministry together. After I disseminate these things with you, I want to share with you one action item that the session has taken regarding lgbtq+ marriage. I believe there is room for disagreement in the church on non-essential matters. I view lots of great examples of this in the New Testament community; a community passionately involved to unity in Christ and, at the same time, dedicated to loving and serving one another in humility, even where there are differing convictions of what should rightfully be the faithful practice
Editor&#;s Note: While this post is informative and touches on Overture 15, it is not a direct argument in favor of the proposed BCO Amendment resulting from the passage of Overture 15 at PCAGA For resources that more directly argue in favor of the proposal, please mention to the list of resources at the finish of this article.
It has been over four years since a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) hosted the inaugural Revoice Conference which promoted “Side B Lgbtq+ Christianity.” The PCA has been debating the issues regarding Side B ever since. After last year’s proposed amendments to the Book of Church Decree (BCO) failed to join the 2/3 threshold of Presbyteries required to hand over them, a slurry of new Overtures seeking to amend the BCO to address the Side B issue came before the 49th General Assembly held earlier this year. Three results of the Assembly’s deliberations this year is that Overtures 15, 29, and 31 passed and are on their way (as Items 1, 4, and 5) to deliberations and votes in the PCA’s 88 Pr
Pastor Letter on Same Sex Marriage