It's been a long week here at GA; the plenary finally ended last night around 11.45pm and I think commissioners and advisory delegates were very ready to head back to their rooms. Yesterday was the day when we hit all the hot-button issues: gay ordination, same-sex marriage, the Iraq war, Israel-Palestine issues and abortion. While the assembly voted to keep the definition of marriage as it currently stands in the Directory for Worship, the assembly did in fact vote to recommend the deletion of G-6.0106b (though it must be ratified by a majority of the 173 presbyteries) - which, along with the new authoritative interpretation, would allow LGBT folk to be ordained in the PC(USA). For more information on those decisions, check out articles here and here.
Many will leave this GA happy with these decisions; they will feel as though this is a justice issue, and that this vote reflects the church's call to be prophetic and move forward on this issue. On the More Light Presbyterians website, the headline states: "Good news from San Jose! 218th GA votes 54% to 46% to end LGBT discrimination!"
However, many others will leave this GA saddened and confused by these decisions; they will feel as though the church has made just one more step away from orthodox Christianity, what the church has taught for centuries and Jesus commands in the Gospels. Shortly after the vote to recommend deletion of G-6.0106b was passed yesterday, a press release was passed out from the Presbyterian Renewal Network stating that the PC(USA) lies "gravely wounded by the hand of its own General Assembly" and that these decisions place the PC(USA) in "spiritual jeopardy" and "threaten to cut us off from God's ancient law."
Regardless of how people feel about the issues - churches and presbyteries are now going to have to deal with these questions and issues. Some churches and presbyteries were still discussing the PUP report from GA two years ago, but there are now many more complexities added to the discussion. It will be interesting to see how this affects churches and presbyteries - especially those who are more split along the conservative/liberal polarities. There is going to be a lot of energy put into conversations about sexuality; energy that churches might have been spending in other ways. And it's not going to be easy work - this will be hard work. Potentially, hard work for the next two years. But - regardless of where you stand on these issues - it is important work. These are important conversations, whether you think it's because we need full inclusion of LGBT folk or you believe we need to remain faithful to the current standards we have.
Stated Clerk Gradye Parsons addressed the commissioners and advisory delegates this morning during the final business meeting and worship, and he said that it's important to remember that "We came in together - we leave together." As we leave this General Assembly, let us put our trust in God that God was at work this year at GA, and pray that God will continue to help us discern God's will for the Presbyterian Church (USA).
More related news articles:
- Presbyterian Leaders OK gay clergy (LA Times)
- Presbyterian assembly votes to drop gay clergy ban (Associated Press)
- More General Assembly News
- Presbyterian Outlook General Assembly News
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