WP/AP: Presbyterians Split Over Homosexuality

[DeepModem Mom]

Presbyterians Split Over Homosexuality
By RICHARD N. OSTLING
The Associated Press
Friday, July 7, 2006

The Episcopal Church's split over homosexuality is getting worldwide attention, but a denomination of roughly equal numbers and stature in the United States -- the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) -- is similarly torn up by the issue.

And as with the Episcopalians, compromises have left both liberal and conservative activists unsatisfied.

The Presbyterian conflict entered a new phase when a June assembly in Birmingham, Ala., approved a two-sided unity plan. For the conservatives, a church law remains in place that requires clergy and lay officers to limit sex to man-woman marriage -- in keeping with biblical teaching as it's been traditionally understood.

But liberals were granted new leeway for local congregations and regional presbyteries to sidestep that sexual law with particular nominees. So an openly gay minister or lay elder could take office if local Presbyterians hold the liberal position that the Bible is chiefly concerned with love and inclusiveness.

Now, both sides are spending the summer in strategy meetings, where plotting next steps is the order of the day....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/07/AR2006070700369.html

[sui generis]

1. well, one good thing about protestantism

(in theory) is a willingness to shop for a church. Hate the gays? There's lovely church in Topeka they can go to. They may not be as extreme, they think, but then what exactly are they intending by saying their god and jesus are too good for people with green eyes or red hair or who happen to love someone of the same gender? In the end for them it all turns out the same: their christian values are skin deep but their ugly is to the bone.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. This is such a difficult challenge

and it hits home for me. All but one of the ECUSA churches in town have divided. It is a hurtful time..kind of like little mini civil wars. People who have attended the same church for over 100 years (not themselves, obviously, but their kin) have had to make the decision to leave the place they were baptized, married, buried their parents, etc. In some cases, it means leaving the graveyard next door and the family plot.

It is forcing members of that church to actually live with their convictions, whatever they might be. To that extent, I suppose it is healthy because it keeps people from burying their heads in the sand and ignoring life changing around them.

[DeepModem Mom]

3. It's awful, Grannie.

(Our diocese is so conservative that there are no Episcopal churches in town we feel comfortable supporting.)