Presbyterian Church

Editorial | Presbyterians on gays The Courier-Journal

It is noteworthy that a Minnesota presbytery became the 87th regional governing body to approve the ordaining of gays and lesbians in the Presbyterian chuch. The decision is a divisive one in a comparatively small but highly educated group of American Christians.

Wandering out of the East Coast/West Coast ‘liberal media’ zone, we share today’s editorial in Louisville’s The Courier-Journal.

 … Cynthia Bolbach, moderator of the PCUSA’s 219th General Assembly, said in a YouTube message. “The ongoing struggle reflects that we are not of one mind on whether persons in same-gender relationships should be candidates for ordained office. We have been and we remain divided on this issue.”

She urged those who were aggrieved by the decision “to live into what the amendment does and does not require” and to determine whether the change does “impact your integrity in proclaiming the gospel.” To those who welcomed the change, she urged them to “understand, respect and where possible reach out to those troubled by the passage.” She asked that Presbyterians be mindful of their upcoming conference theme: “the big tent.”

Sound advice to Presbyterians assimilating a long-coming and welcome change, and to all Americans, who are still working on living into that theme, too.

 Newt Gingrich On Gay and Secular Fascism

Newt Gingrich Faces Commentator Gingrich NYTimes

On gay Americans: “I think there is a gay and secular fascism in this country that wants to impose its will on the rest of us, is prepared to use violence, to use harassment. I think it is prepared to use the government if it can get control of it. I think that it is a very dangerous threat to anybody who believes in traditional religion.” – November 2008

American Views on Gay Marriage and Homosexuality