Newsletter - April (Amendment 10-A)

The following was my latest article for our church newsletter:

From the Pastor’s Desk…
Our denomination (PCUSA) is currently voting throughout the Presbyteries of the United States. The PCUSA consists of 173 Presbyteries and we are a part of the Presbytery of West Virginia. We are voting on several changes to our constitution; the two primary issues deciding on ordination standards for Ministers, Elders, and Deacons, and the other change deals with our form of government section of the Book of Order. I realize that these issues do not necessarily affect church members directly and the concern over them may be more important to some than others. But, I think these issues do matter to everyone. The hot button topic revolves around allowing the ordination of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) persons to offices in the church. There are many complex factors playing into this issue, not the least being the authority and interpretation of scripture. The PCUSA has debated this particular issue since 1978 and this will be our sixth time voting on changing the standard. The current standard holds all persons to particular standards of conduct in singleness or in marriage between a man and a woman. Here is the current Book of Order reference:
G-6.0106b “b. Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
If the denomination votes to change the standard, the Book of Order will read:
Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
Those who advocate keeping the standards we currently have appeal to scripture as traditionally interpreted as its standard. LGBT advocates are seeking participation in offices for the sake of justice and through a different interpretation of scripture. Of course, this simplifies the two sides greatly, but my point here is not to present both sides (that would take much more room than the newsletter gives) as much as to demonstrate that there is great division in the PCUSA. Even if the change is approved, such an outcome would be divisive as one side says the church will be healed while the other side says it will divide us even more, perhaps leading many conservatives from the denomination.
I voted, in our Presbytery meeting March 1, to keep the standards we currently have in the Book Order. The Presbytery voted 93-56 in favor of changing the standards. While I have great concern for people on both sides of the issue, I personally cannot set aside my biblical convictions, but I pray for all that we may listen to God’s word and the leading of the Holy Spirit as we seek to discern what God is calling us to do and to be. If the ordination standard is changed it will take effect in the PCUSA July 11, 2011. The session will be studying various positions and responses to this issue in the next three months. If you are interested in seeing the material we will be studying, please email me at edhpettus@gmail.com. Let us remember to “speak the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15) and “let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts” (Col. 3:15). Ω