This decision is the result of decades of scholarship, debate, and discernment. You disagree, apparently. Guess what... your theology doesn't override all of ours. If we wanted a bishop, we'd be Catholics.
If you'd be a little bit more humble here. A statement you could make to Tom would be:
- Yes, the church has changed over the years. While I believe that the Church was established by Christ, it has been run and codified by man for 2,000 years. For example with amendment 10-A, the church has been researching and debating this issue for decades. After much discernment and prayer (hopefully there was much prayer), the church decided that its fundamental understanding of the position and place of practicing gay clergy has been made more clear. The Church believes, based on Biblical Scholarship, discernment, and the collective understanding and belief of its members, that practicing gay people can be called to ministry by God. We feel that it is important to seriously study, pray, and seek counsel when we find our faith and understanding of the truth to come up against seeming contradictions or incongruities. Faith in God would be lessened if we were unable or unwilling to study our beliefs and adjust them when it becomes clear, Biblically and Spiritually, that we have misconceived aspects of God's truth.
Most people are skeptical about churches and faith because they see it as this single monolithic belief and management structure that hasn't at all changed in any way in over 2000 years. As far as I can tell, the Presbyterian church believes that it has a better understanding of God and who he can call to his ministry, not that the truth has somehow changed.
That won't change that some people will disagree with you for a variety of different reasons, but it isn't a defensive stance that serves no purpose to your Church or mission.
Presbyterian Church (USA) passes Amendment 10-A.
- 11/05/2011 05:39:29 PM
1538 Views
What's the language? Did they at least TRY to give a doctrinal justification?
- 12/05/2011 02:10:46 AM
1117 Views
Thank you for that rousing argument against married priests.
- 12/05/2011 03:36:51 AM
1054 Views
Why ARE you letting women into the priesthood?
- 12/05/2011 04:16:50 AM
959 Views
Because Episcopalians don't listen to the Bible much.
- 12/05/2011 05:47:03 AM
897 Views
That's just fine as far as I'm concerned
- 12/05/2011 02:23:44 PM
935 Views
Yes, I suppose a church could go that route.
- 14/05/2011 07:38:02 AM
875 Views
I'm not attempting to impose a dichotomy on the Bible.
- 14/05/2011 03:25:30 PM
952 Views
I don't even know what following the Bible in its entirety means.
- 14/05/2011 09:09:10 PM
1119 Views
As an exercise, I tried to think of how I would justify allowing homosexuals as clergy.
- 14/05/2011 04:19:43 PM
949 Views
Thanks (I'm actually OK with women priests though).
- 12/05/2011 07:09:11 AM
1004 Views
There's ample precedent for female religious leaders, even within the bible.
- 12/05/2011 06:51:05 AM
1054 Views
Since when is Moses' society the be-all end all?
- 12/05/2011 07:12:41 PM
907 Views
Since never, which is why I referenced five other eras you completely ignored.
- 14/05/2011 01:11:30 AM
1009 Views
They did so, via negativa.
- 12/05/2011 04:22:17 PM
1092 Views
Sorry for the delay, particularly since it looks like I'll be spending a fair amount of time here.
- 14/05/2011 12:31:33 AM
892 Views
Your church has a constitution?!
- 12/05/2011 03:36:41 AM
945 Views
My Church has a congress!
*NM*
- 12/05/2011 03:37:52 AM
450 Views
*NM*
- 12/05/2011 03:37:52 AM
450 Views
Haha no way! *NM*
- 12/05/2011 03:46:32 AM
409 Views
Well, we have one group of laity and one of bishops, so it is only mildy utter chaos.
*NM*
- 12/05/2011 05:51:09 AM
447 Views
*NM*
- 12/05/2011 05:51:09 AM
447 Views
I'm happy to hear this, personally. I also wonder how you reconcile this with the Bible.
- 12/05/2011 04:11:31 AM
1122 Views
Every direct reference to homosexuality in the Bible is a reference to rape.
- 12/05/2011 04:12:43 PM
946 Views
Every single word that you wrote in your response is complete bullshit.
- 12/05/2011 05:50:07 PM
1078 Views
Knock off your eisegesis, try some exegesis
- 12/05/2011 07:02:45 PM
992 Views
I'm trying to figure out just what your "gifts" are, because I don't see any.
- 12/05/2011 07:30:39 PM
961 Views
There are cases in which hypocrisy is far better than the alternatives.
- 12/05/2011 10:04:32 PM
1044 Views
Hypocrisy is better than, say, setting gays on fire, yes.
- 12/05/2011 10:10:40 PM
1017 Views
My statement is that, from a pragmatic point of view, hypocrisy shouldn't be discouraged too much.
- 13/05/2011 10:05:39 PM
1032 Views
Oh, is that how we're playing this, then?
- 13/05/2011 06:29:31 PM
973 Views
I'm not playing. I'm pointing out some glaring errors on your part.
- 13/05/2011 07:25:08 PM
875 Views
The Bible says what it says. The problem... people like to tell us just what else it's saying.
- 13/05/2011 05:31:29 PM
936 Views
You don't reconcile... you pick the parts you like and adjust the rest to suit you.
- 13/05/2011 09:33:54 PM
857 Views
Another example...
- 12/05/2011 09:19:52 AM
855 Views
If you claim to follow the entire Bible, then you are completely correct.
- 12/05/2011 06:04:38 PM
851 Views
On the contrary, this move will take some butts out of the seats.
- 12/05/2011 07:16:22 PM
912 Views
We both know that isn't the case
- 12/05/2011 07:55:41 PM
1021 Views
Whatever your issue is, get over it.
- 13/05/2011 06:17:26 PM
871 Views
You'd be a lot more effective...
- 13/05/2011 06:45:31 PM
994 Views
Cool cool. I have a question on a semi-related note, about Protestant Gospels
- 12/05/2011 05:33:49 PM
974 Views
No Protestant denomination has added so much as a word to the Bible
- 12/05/2011 05:58:16 PM
859 Views
So, everyone hates Judith, then?
- 12/05/2011 06:40:11 PM
939 Views
The Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches accept Judith as part of Scripture.
- 12/05/2011 07:51:27 PM
873 Views
Does the Eastern Orthodox Church also segregate deuterocanonical works like Roman Catholicism does?
- 14/05/2011 02:19:03 AM
1192 Views
The Eastern Church bases everything on the Septuagint.
- 14/05/2011 02:34:41 AM
935 Views
That sounds appealing, and makes sense.
- 14/05/2011 02:44:56 AM
948 Views
Oh, I just enjoy calling Protestants "heretics" to remind them not everyone agrees with them.
- 14/05/2011 03:25:42 AM
894 Views
Re: Cool cool. I have a question on a semi-related note, about Protestant Gospels
- 12/05/2011 08:52:48 PM
922 Views
The NIV is terrible. The NASB has the best translation I have found (of the NT, at least).
- 12/05/2011 10:43:58 PM
1066 Views
I find this really weird, to be honest
- 13/05/2011 05:48:28 AM
967 Views
Well, it wasn't just Athanasius. But yes, we are lucky in that respect. *NM*
- 13/05/2011 06:32:48 AM
384 Views
Athanasius's list reflected the victory of Pauline Christianity
- 13/05/2011 02:52:53 PM
876 Views
There's a school of thought that says that's a strong vindication of Athanasius.
- 14/05/2011 02:37:49 AM
831 Views
- 14/05/2011 02:37:49 AM
831 Views

*NM*