In the General Assembly approved an amendment that allows ordination of openly LGBTQ ministers at the discretion of individual presbyteries and sessions, essentially allowing each congregation the decision to ordain or not.
The amendment was ratified in , following approving votes from a majority of presbyteries. In , Erin Swenson became the first transgender minister to serve in the Presbyterian Church USA when members voted to continue her ministry following her transition from male to female. Presbyterian Church U. Louisville, KY Website: www. The General Assembly adopted a motion that the moderator write a pastoral letter to all congregations, presbyteries and synods of the PCC inviting them to: 1 maintain unity in the bond of peace while debating and studying the full inclusion of LGBT people within the PCC; 2 treat one another with profound and mutual respect and integrity despite differences in biblical interpretation and perspective; and 3 be particularly sensitive and gracious to all who are vulnerable and might despair as a result of such deliberations.
A study guide for congregations was prepared and distributed in the fall of The final report was received and adopted by the General Assembly. Looking for more context? Download the Social Action Handbook. Social Action Hub. Rainbow Communion. People who are Transgender or Intersex. InterAct Transgender is a term used to describe people whose gender identity does not correspond with what is socially expected based on their sex assigned at birth.
Egale Canada For a more in-depth glossary of terms, download the definitions of commonly used words in discussions about sexuality from the report of the Rainbow Communion. Principles that General Assembly has endorsed: The Presbyterian Church in Canada affirms that all people whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity are equally beloved by God.
The weight of scientific evidence suggests that sexual orientation is innate, established early in life, and not a matter of choice. These roles include church school teachers, musicians, youth leaders, ruling elders, teaching elders and members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries. The church is called to be a welcoming, nurturing, loving and supporting community, a true church family, where all are welcomed, nurtured, loved and supported.
Paul Detterman, executive director of the Fellowship Community, shares this concern. Coercion has no place. Many advocates for marriage equality are conscious of these concerns.
This is merely permission. Others are quick to explain that cultural bias works both ways. We recognize that our cultural biases and prejudices were woven throughout the biblical witness. This recognition has helped lead the Presbyterian Church to change its traditional stance on a number of issues, including slavery, racial equality, and the right of women to be ordained into positions of church leadership.
Many of us also recognize that the biblical passages that condemn same-gender sexual acts are not in reference to couples in a loving mutual relationship, but rather address relationships that are controlling, abusive, and exploitative. It came out of left field. That all began to change when she saw the Bible study. And I was thinking about that today. Many Presbyterians, however, want to be clear that this is a time for celebration, not explanation, for all those who have felt shut out by the church.
Colin Kerr worships with an evangelical Presbyterian congregation and is director of the Journey, a campus ministry for the College of Charleston. Among the evangelical young adults he works with, Kerr discerns very different priorities. In the same token, students from more conservative backgrounds have no problem participating in a community that is openly inclusive. What they are looking for is a church that has life in it, a church where the Spirit is moving, and where they can wrestle with Scripture openly.
For Kerr, this is a very evangelical stance. We are focused on wanting people to know Jesus. Caitlyn is a graduate student and has been a mentor for the Journey. She attends a PC USA congregation and believes that same-sex marriage is inconsistent with Scripture but agrees with its legality in the eyes of the state. One threat to the gospel she does see is the temptation to treat people in an un-Christlike way. That mandate cuts both ways, she says, sharing that she has sometimes felt silenced out of fear of being labeled hateful simply because she holds different views.
The gospel element of this debate has to do with an ability or failure to love people of all backgrounds. Across the country, Presbyterians, inspired by the vision of a refocused church, are mapping next steps.
For McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, next steps come down to two things: remembering that marriage was just a piece of a much longer arc toward welcome and inclusion and creating space for those with whom we disagree.
Not to teach, but to share. Ellison echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of listening and working on our relationships. When we give attention to those friendships, the result will be greater openness to seeing how God is doing something even in those with whom we disagree. For many, those friendships have been in the works for a long time now. How this plays out for all of us, wherever we land on the theological spectrum, is resisting the pull of culture and representing our savior, Jesus Christ.
Detterman is adamant that this is an opportunity to move the church in a new direction. Ministries: Office of the General Assembly. Tags: church , creation , homosexuality , office of the general assembly.
Topics: Communication.
0コメント