Presbyterian Church in Ireland votes to ban same-sex couples

[Soph0571]

The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has voted to exclude gay couples from membership and banned baptism for children of same-sex couples.

The Church, which is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, today opted to adopt the harsh new policy clamping down on LGBT Christians. 

The Presbyterian church’s General Assembly voted to adopt the harsh new policy today (June 8).

Church documents state: “The Presbyterian Church in Ireland has a clear position on marriage and human relationships based on the teaching of the Bible.

[link:https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2018/06/08/presbyterian-church-in-ireland-votes-to-ban-same-sex-couples/|

To be clear this is not about getting married - it is total exclusion - so Christ like.../s

[Voltaire2]

1. Competing with the RCC for irrelevance.

[woodsprite]

2. Glad I'm a member of the Presby Church n the US then

We have a same sex couple who are members of our church serving on committees and leadership positions. Also, our transgender member who is is also an LGBT activist and leader, joined through baptism and declaration of faith. She was baptized under her new name. This past cycle, she was nominated and voted in to be a deacon.

I can’t see us remaining in our church if they voted to exclude our friends.

[PJMcK]

3. I was a member of a Presbyterian church for about 15 years

Last edited Sat Jun 9, 2018, 02:54 PM - Edit history (1)

The nearly 200-year old building was in a nice suburb of New York situated on the edge of a beautiful park. The members were diverse and friendly and the minister was an exceptional man who was educated, articulate and very funny.

When the minister accepted a call from another church, I was drafted as a co-leader of the search team. When we put out our call for a new pastor, we received scores of responses and it was eye opening. The breadth of the spectrum of viewpoints of the ministers who sent us their resumes was stunning! The range of attitudes was as wide and diverse as any between the political left and right. For example, in her opening paragraph, one minister wrote that gay people should be isolated from society and shunned from the Church. (We were glad she was so direct since we didn't have to spend any more time on her materials.) Another minister expressed views that clearly indicated he did not believe in God. It was an interesting and frustrating experience but we ended up with a minister who reflected the views and diversity of our congregation. Incidentally, this particular church was a member of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Over time, my views have changed and I've left religion behind in my life. I have a fairly rich religious education and it has been disheartening to see Americans call themselves "Christians" when they don't know anything about Jesus or the Bible. Among other reasons for moving on, I've determined that I need not spend my time with people who are ignorant of the faith they proclaim.

Your church, woodsprite, sounds like a wonderful congregation and I admire your expression in your last sentence.

[woodsprite]

6. We're gearing up for a pastor search now.

We have a very diverse group on the nominating committee, so I’m hoping we find someone as awesome and liberal as our previous pastor. Our interim is really nice and open, but you can’t hire the interim.

Since Trump has been elected, we’ve created a support group.

[PJMcK]

7. We wanted to hire our interim pastor!

He was a remarkable Scotsman with the passion of faith and the fire of a broad perspective. But, as you wrote, a congregation cannot hire an intern.

There's a good reason for that, as I learned in my own experience. To be succinct, the idea is that a congregation needs to look inwards and determine their direction collectively. A congregation should not have a "rebound" relationship with their interim pastor. This limitation shields a church from that pitfall.

The suggestions of the composition of the search committee are quite inclusive and I hope your congregation will find a new leader.

Peace.

[RKP5637]

4. Fairness and loving in religion ... yeah, right. It's a club!!! So glad I'm gone/quit! n/t

[Major Nikon]

5. You can safely assume you've created God in your own image...

when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.
-- Anne Lamott

[thucythucy]

8. Excellent quote. nt