Conservative Presbyterians: PC(USA) Not Walking the Talk
Wednesday, Jun. 27, 2007 Posted: 3:50:39PM EST
However, William Beau Weston, associate professor of sociology at Centre College in Danvill, Ky., says there are practicing homosexuals in ordained ministry now.
"Can practicing homosexuals now be ordained in the PC(USA)?" posed Weston in The Presbyterian Outlook. "The short answer is 'No.' The more complicated answer is 'Maybe.'"
The "authoritative interpretation" allows local and regional governing bodies to have the option to decide that the ordination standard is "not essential."
Is it true the PC(USA) on paper believes in the Book of Confessions? Yes, Weaver answered. But functionally, some do not believe the denomination is consistent with the written theology, he added.
"Many people are waking up to realizing that the PC(USA) may not believe what it says it believes," said Weaver, noting a growing anxiety about what the denomination really believes.
Kirkpatrick and Valentine stated that the document is simply being made available for those who seek to "interpret accurately the positions of our church." Weaver, however, believes the latest document may be an attempt to stop the "bleeding" of churches out of the denomination.
The document was released a week ahead of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church's (EPC) General Assembly which last week created a new non-geographic transitional presbytery for New Wineskins churches seeking membership along with transitional presbyteries for congregations wanting to join EPC's already established geographic presbyteries. The New Wineskins presbytery launches publicly with its first official presbytery meeting in October. Weaver clarified that the New Wineskins is not yet fully integrated into the EPC but they are intentionally moving toward it.
