Never before had he felt so seen by his faith community. It was profound in ways he had not fully expected—the sheer joy of being able to share this with the congregation he loves and the man he loves. As our reporters talked with more and more Presbyterians, it became clear that on all sides of the issue, people believe they are representing Scripture, the identity of Christ, and compassion for these stories.
Dangers of generalizing. Another group often generalized are young adults. They were singles, couples, and young families. They said they loved First Pres Spokane, appreciated our mission, and had relationships with others in the church, but as a matter of principle could not be affiliated with a denomination that blessed the ordination of LGBTQ persons.
Sowers has also found that the changes have diverted energy from some of the ministry that drew these young people in the first place.
This at least was the experience for some of the older members of Graystone Presbyterian Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania, when the congregation voted to leave the PC USA for the Evangelical Presbyterian Church—members who voted against the withdrawal and transferred to neighboring Calvary Presbyterian Church.
The younger people wanted to leave, and the older people who had been through all the mergers and different forms, been through it all, were ready to stay. We knew what it meant to be Presbyterian, to accept others, and to have freedom of conscience. Statistics explain some of the generalizations that Steffish and Sowers are hearing. Support for same-sex marriage is greatest among younger adults. Nearly eight in 10 young adults 18—29 in the United States favor same-sex marriage, according to a Gallup poll.
Even these statistics are a reminder, however, of the danger of generalizations. Ellison, though, would like to see us focus on how much we have in common. That conversation is spilling into unexpected places. Within an hour of hearing the news about the marriage amendment, Vigilante struck up a conversation with a barista at Starbucks. Patrick D.
Heery is the editor of Presbyterians Today. We invited Presbyterians to share their responses to the marriage amendment. Here are a few. I needed to raise my voice and add my effort to the work of inclusion. For freedom and welcome, some have paid a terrible price, and the scars remain. A great injustice has been corrected. If this vote brings unity to the church, I applaud it. Time will tell. If we really paid attention to how our youth are leading us, we would have been here six years ago.
How many of those youth got fed up and walked away instead of waiting? One of the things that concerns me is that as a denomination, we are still captured by a legislative process that I think actually diminishes the relational process. The best kind of summer I have is a summer without General Assembly! History points to the latter as a common practice in the ancient world. I believe we need to shift our focus to promoting fidelity and respect in marriage between two people.
You can observe the dynamic and astounding evangelical fruit God is producing through [some] new denominations, and I have great hope that an evangelical Presbyterian movement is going to happen. I do think, though, there is a potential for hope and benefit. Start talking about what it means to be in Jesus Christ, in His goodness, holiness, beauty, and truth.
And then ask whether we individually and corporately as a denomination are going to conform to these realities. When I found out that 14F had officially passed, I was speechless.
God is the author of marriage. Two folks love each other. That love should be sanctified and celebrated. My church is very dear to my heart as is this family member. LGBTQI people whether married or single can be ordained and are welcome to serve as ministers and ruling elders. Additionally, after a process of prayerful discernment following the report of the Special Committee of Moderators, the following were remitted to presbyteries under the Barrier Act, the process through which official policies of the church may be changed click here to read more :.
The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage and recognizes that faithful, Holy Spirit filled, Christ centered, God honouring people can understand marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons.
That congregations, sessions, ruling and teaching elders be granted liberty of conscience and action on marriage. That congregations and presbyteries may call and ordain as ruling elders LGBTQI persons married or single with the provision that liberty of conscience and action regarding participation in ordinations, inductions and installations be granted to ministers and ruling elders.
That the Clerks of Assembly be instructed to provisionally prepare guidelines to ensure that calls to LGBTQI ministers and the election of LGBTQI elders are facilitated in presbyteries and congregations; That the Moderator write a pastoral letter to the church; That as a matter of urgency, the Life and Mission Agency provide a means for those affected by this decision regarding the remits to express their concerns, views and pain in a safe environment, and that these concerns be reported back to the General Assembly before the report on remits is received and its recommendations considered.
Each group also prepared separate, individual reports. General Assembly commended the following reports to various groups of the church — such as sessions, presbyteries, theological colleges, etc. General Assembly adopted an additional motion that the moderator prepare a letter of repentance addressed to the LGBTQ community. General Assembly recommended that the Committee on Church Doctrine in consultation with the Life and Mission Agency: 1 continue to reflect on the nature of Christian marriage in relation to LGBTQ and intersex people; and 2 reflect theologically on the spiritual needs of transgender and intersex people.
Commissioners participated in facilitated, small group discussions about human sexuality and sexual orientation. The General Assembly adopted a motion that the moderator write a pastoral letter to all congregations, presbyteries and synods of the PCC inviting them to: 1 maintain unity in the bond of peace while debating and studying the full inclusion of LGBT people within the PCC; 2 treat one another with profound and mutual respect and integrity despite differences in biblical interpretation and perspective; and 3 be particularly sensitive and gracious to all who are vulnerable and might despair as a result of such deliberations.
A study guide for congregations was prepared and distributed in the fall of The final report was received and adopted by the General Assembly. Looking for more context? Download the Social Action Handbook. Social Action Hub. Rainbow Communion. Compare: attendance at prayer groups by religious denomination attendance at prayer groups by views about homosexuality. Compare: frequency of meditation by religious denomination frequency of meditation by views about homosexuality.
Compare: frequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing by religious denomination frequency of feelings of spiritual wellbeing by views about homosexuality. Compare: frequency feeling a sense of wonder about the universe by religious denomination frequency feeling a sense of wonder about the universe by views about homosexuality.
Compare: sources of guidance on right and wrong by religious denomination sources of guidance on right and wrong by views about homosexuality.
Compare: belief in existence of standards for right and wrong by religious denomination belief in existence of standards for right and wrong by views about homosexuality. Compare: frequency of reading scripture by religious denomination frequency of reading scripture by views about homosexuality. Compare: interpretation of scripture by religious denomination interpretation of scripture by views about homosexuality. Compare: belief in heaven by religious denomination belief in heaven by views about homosexuality.
Compare: belief in hell by religious denomination belief in hell by views about homosexuality. Compare: political party by religious denomination political party by views about homosexuality. Compare: political ideology by religious denomination political ideology by views about homosexuality.
Compare: views about size of government by religious denomination views about size of government by views about homosexuality. Compare: views about government aid to the poor by religious denomination views about government aid to the poor by views about homosexuality.
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