The Presbyterian Church (USA) made some controversial decisions at its General Assembly in June, and is beginning to hear criticism from conservative members and partners. Meeting in Birmingham, Alabama, the assembly voted to allow flexibility in deciding whether to ordain non-celibate homosexuals as clergy, something that was previously banned outright by the denomination.
“We have not altered the fundamentals; we have the same standards as before,” said Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk. “The report encourages a more pastoral approach to ordination and encourages our governing bodies to do a thorough work of examining people for office.”
The proposal was one of seven contained in a theological task force report that has spent four years looking for ways to help the denomination stay together despite its differences.
PC(USA)’s Book of Order states that clergy must adhere to “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” But the new policy approved by 298 votes (with 221 against) gives presbyteries and congregations greater leeway in ordaining clergy as well as lay deacons or elders, provided they are faithful to the church’s core values.
Rev. David Miller of Tampa Bay presbytery called the measure “a wrong turn,” the Presbyterian News Service reported. He said it was “a license to overlook clear standards that have been set, a license to ignore the larger discernment of the body of Christ and a license to legislate by interpretation.”
Leaders of the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi say the denomination may consider cutting ties with its U.S. counterpart because of this decision.
The moderator of the Malawi church’s northern Livingstonia Synod, Rev. Maurice Munthali, told local media that his denomination is praying that a new resolution by the U.S. church does not impact Malawi.
“That practice is not ordained by God,” said Munthali. “But as Presbyterians, it affects us because the Presbyterian Church is one big global family.” He asserted that the ordination of homosexual clergy demeaned the faith and doctrine of the Presbyterian tradition.
The moderator of the Blantyre Synod, Rev. Lackson Chingadza, agreed with Munthali.
“The fact that we are Presbyterian does not guarantee that we agree with them. We cannot be one when we don’t believe in the same things,” he said. “Eventually, we may have to part ways because of this.”
PC(USA)’s General Assembly took another risk when it become the seventh major religious organization in the United States to support the use of medical marijuana. “Medical marijuana is an issue of mercy,” said Rev. Lynn Bledsoe, a Presbyterian minister from Alabama who works as a hospice chaplain. Her words were issued in a statement from the Interfaith Drug Policy Initiative, a group seeking to promote “less coercive” alternatives to the war on drugs.
The consensus vote came as U.S. lawmakers were to consider a bill prohibiting the federal government from using any funds for legal action against medical marijuana users who comply with their state laws and have a doctor’s order. Eleven states allow medical use of marijuana following a doctor’s prescription, but federal law enforcement officials can arrest people in those states.
“As people of faith, we are called to stand up for humans who are suffering needlessly,” said Bledsoe. “It is unconscionable that seriously ill patients can be arrested for making an earnest attempt at healing by using medical marijuana with their doctors’ approval.” – with files from ENI
