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
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What's the language? Did they at least TRY to give a doctrinal justification?
12/05/2011 02:10:46 AM
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Thank you for that rousing argument against married priests.
12/05/2011 03:36:51 AM
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Why ARE you letting women into the priesthood?
12/05/2011 04:16:50 AM
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Because Episcopalians don't listen to the Bible much.
12/05/2011 05:47:03 AM
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That's just fine as far as I'm concerned
12/05/2011 02:23:44 PM
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Yes, I suppose a church could go that route.
14/05/2011 07:38:02 AM
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I'm not attempting to impose a dichotomy on the Bible.
14/05/2011 03:25:30 PM
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I don't even know what following the Bible in its entirety means.
14/05/2011 09:09:10 PM
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As an exercise, I tried to think of how I would justify allowing homosexuals as clergy.
14/05/2011 04:19:43 PM
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Thanks (I'm actually OK with women priests though).
12/05/2011 07:09:11 AM
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There's ample precedent for female religious leaders, even within the bible.
12/05/2011 06:51:05 AM
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Since when is Moses' society the be-all end all?
12/05/2011 07:12:41 PM
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Since never, which is why I referenced five other eras you completely ignored.
14/05/2011 01:11:30 AM
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They did so, via negativa.
12/05/2011 04:22:17 PM
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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
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Your church has a constitution?!
12/05/2011 03:36:41 AM
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My Church has a congress!
*NM*
12/05/2011 03:37:52 AM
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Haha no way! *NM*
12/05/2011 03:46:32 AM
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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
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I'm happy to hear this, personally. I also wonder how you reconcile this with the Bible.
12/05/2011 04:11:31 AM
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Every direct reference to homosexuality in the Bible is a reference to rape.
12/05/2011 04:12:43 PM
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Every single word that you wrote in your response is complete bullshit.
12/05/2011 05:50:07 PM
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Knock off your eisegesis, try some exegesis
12/05/2011 07:02:45 PM
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I'm trying to figure out just what your "gifts" are, because I don't see any.
12/05/2011 07:30:39 PM
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There are cases in which hypocrisy is far better than the alternatives.
12/05/2011 10:04:32 PM
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Hypocrisy is better than, say, setting gays on fire, yes.
12/05/2011 10:10:40 PM
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My statement is that, from a pragmatic point of view, hypocrisy shouldn't be discouraged too much.
13/05/2011 10:05:39 PM
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Oh, is that how we're playing this, then?
13/05/2011 06:29:31 PM
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I'm not playing. I'm pointing out some glaring errors on your part.
13/05/2011 07:25:08 PM
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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
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You don't reconcile... you pick the parts you like and adjust the rest to suit you.
13/05/2011 09:33:54 PM
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Another example...
12/05/2011 09:19:52 AM
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If you claim to follow the entire Bible, then you are completely correct.
12/05/2011 06:04:38 PM
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On the contrary, this move will take some butts out of the seats.
12/05/2011 07:16:22 PM
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We both know that isn't the case
12/05/2011 07:55:41 PM
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Whatever your issue is, get over it.
13/05/2011 06:17:26 PM
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You'd be a lot more effective...
13/05/2011 06:45:31 PM
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Cool cool. I have a question on a semi-related note, about Protestant Gospels
12/05/2011 05:33:49 PM
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No Protestant denomination has added so much as a word to the Bible
12/05/2011 05:58:16 PM
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So, everyone hates Judith, then?
12/05/2011 06:40:11 PM
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The Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Churches accept Judith as part of Scripture.
12/05/2011 07:51:27 PM
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Does the Eastern Orthodox Church also segregate deuterocanonical works like Roman Catholicism does?
14/05/2011 02:19:03 AM
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The Eastern Church bases everything on the Septuagint.
14/05/2011 02:34:41 AM
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That sounds appealing, and makes sense.
14/05/2011 02:44:56 AM
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Oh, I just enjoy calling Protestants "heretics" to remind them not everyone agrees with them.
14/05/2011 03:25:42 AM
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Re: Cool cool. I have a question on a semi-related note, about Protestant Gospels
12/05/2011 08:52:48 PM
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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
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I find this really weird, to be honest
13/05/2011 05:48:28 AM
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Well, it wasn't just Athanasius. But yes, we are lucky in that respect. *NM*
13/05/2011 06:32:48 AM
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Athanasius's list reflected the victory of Pauline Christianity
13/05/2011 02:52:53 PM
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There's a school of thought that says that's a strong vindication of Athanasius.
14/05/2011 02:37:49 AM
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