The task force apparently will not take an advocacy position on the thorniest issue facing the PC(USA) — whether or not “practicing” homosexuals should be eligible for church leadership.“The task force was not asked to take a position on human sexuality or ordination and we have not attempted to do so,” the report states.
Instead, the group studied an exhaustive range of Biblical and theological perspectives, a processs that “yielded several major insights,” the report says:
- “The theological and Biblical literature on human sexuality in general and same-gender issues in particular is diverse, subtle and complex.”
- “Methods of Biblical interpretation, theological traditions and policy conclusions did not line up neatly,” and “opinions about ordination and sexuality did not always correlate precisely with particular theological positions.”
- “Amid all the rich complexity of these studies, all of us deepened our understanding of our own perspectives as well as others.”
The task force concluded that beyond general themes — the Biblical model of “servant leadership,” the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, the particular responsibilities accruing to ordained leaders — “there is no thoroughly developed theology of ordination in scripture, and the theology of ordination has not been clearly and consistently articulated in the development of Reformed and Presbyterian doctrine.”The report affirms the TTF’s agreement on several points adopted by various General Assemblies:
- “It is a grave error to deny Baptism or church membership to gay and lesbian persons or to withhold pastoral care to them and their families.”
- “Those who aspire to ordination must lead faithful lives. Those who demonstrate licentious behavior should not be ordained.”
- “It is damaging and dangerous to teach that sexual behavior is a purely personal matter that is not relevant for Christian discipleship, leadership and community life.”
- “Sexual orientation is, in itself, no barrier to ordination.”
FULL STORY at(It shouldn't matter whether you are a heterosexual who is a fornicator or an adulterer or a homosexual who is a fornicator as neither one should be an ordained minister, and only a believer in what the Bible says should be baptized. Lack of church discipline is the problem.)1 Corinthians 5:9 ¶I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.