Good news. Yesterday the PCUSA’s highest Court issued a decision that has big implications for our denomination. Basically what they did was to end some of the confusion which had arose after the 2006 General Assembly where it seemed that “authoritative interpretation” gave local churches and presbyteries power to ordain people who were in “open violation” of our denominations standards for ordination. Key in all of this was the debate on whether anyone breaking the “fidelity and chastity” part could be ordained.
The three decisions which were issued yesterday essentially stated that no one could be ordained (elder, deacon or Minister of Word and Sacrament) who went against the standards that I list below.
The standard they are referring to in the Book of Order G-60106b says this.
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, 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 or the Word and Sacraments.”
wow, I’ve gotta look into this. After some recent Presbytery meetings here, I would’ve NEVER expected this.
Happy Valentine’s Day! What are you doing for Danielle?