Rev Bill

The Presbytery I am a member of (New Harmony Presbytery) voted down amendment 08(b) to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) by a vote of 99-20 in our meeting today.

This amendment seeks to replace one of the statements in our constitution regarding those seeking ordination in the church. The current statement requires that they live lives under scripture and the confessions in our constitution, and lives of “fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness” . 08 (b) seeks to replace this with a statement that they live lives in accordance with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Many fear that, if passed, 08 (b) will “open the door” for the ordination of homosexuals. Personally, I believe the issue is living in the ways God would have us live — regardless of our sexual orientation. Heterosexuals abusing the gift of sexuality by having pre-marital or extra-martial sex are just as wrong as those engaged in homosexual behavior.

I found the comments of one of my colleagues very impressive today. He stood and said that — with all we see in the media that makes sex look cheap and easy — he is glad he can tell the youth of his Church that our denomination stands for the right use of the gift God has given us.

Amen to that.

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