New Day for Presbyterians

Thirty years of debate, discussion, and disagreement came to an end Tuesday, May 10th, 2011 with the ratification of a measure that allows the ordination of homosexual men and women in the Presbyterian Church, USA. This makes the fourth mainline denomination to permit homosexual ordinations. The other three mainline denominations to allow such ordinations are the Episcopal and Evangelical Lutherans and the United Church of Christ.

After the vote, Michael Adee, a Presbyterian Elder said, "This is an important moment in the Christian Communion. I rejoice that Presbyterians are focusing on what matters most - faith and character, not a person's marital status or sexual orientation."


I personally found one comment appalling. Linda Fleming, an elder and a deacon at Knox Presbyterian Church in in Ladera Heights (CA) had changed her mind on this issue in recent years. She said, "I finally decided at the age of 63 that it is inevitable. I think it is like letting black people come to white churches or letting women become ministers. It's inevitable."

Inevitable? Is that how we determine biblical or ecclesiastical practices? Do we determine standards based on inevitability rather than the Scriptures? Isn't "sexual orientation" a matter of faith and character? There is no denying that a major push from various homosexual organizations, government policies and supporters, and religious organizations are pushing very hard to both legalize and normalize this biblically condemned practice.

The greater tragedy is this sin is not the only sin making headway against the church. Satan's strategy seems to be to get the church distracted on one or two major issues and then infiltrate the church with a number of other sins to divide, dilute, and devour. The church needs to remain alert, sober, and on its guard!