A Presbyterian Church in Wisconsin ordained the church’s first gay minister Saturday.
According to a report in Fox News, Scott Anderson, 56, was ordained in the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison, Wis., more than 20 years after leaving his Presbyterian church in California after telling his congregation he was gay. At that time, the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. barred homosexuals from serving as ministers. Last year, however, the National Assembly of the Presbyterian Church voted to remove the ban. Before revealing his homosexuality, Anderson served as a minister in a Presbyterian ministry in Sacramento, Calif. from 1983 until 1990. He came out to his congregation and resigned after a couple threatened to reveal his sexual orientation.
There have, however, been rumblings that by ordaining Anderson, there is likely to be a split in the Presbyterian church. Tom Hay, director of operations for the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) told the Huffington Post that he did expect it to happen.
"The Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the United Church of Christ have all made this step and all have experienced losses," he is quoted as saying. "I would expect we will, too. I would grieve that and hope we can find better solutions than to break apart."
In 2004, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Foley Beach formed in Loganville after breaking away from the Episcopal Church of U.S.A. following the appointment of the Rev. V. Gene Robson, an actively gay man, as a bishop in 2003. However, since its early beginnings in the cafeteria of Loganville Middle School, Holy Cross Anglican Church has grown to a thriving church in Gwinnett County with Beach now consecrated as the first Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of the South.
"For many caught in this dilema, they will not have a choice -- that is, if they practice and live the teachings of the Bible," Beach said, adding it is always tragic to see this happen. "But 2,000 years of Church history has shown us that the Church has a pattern of drifting away from the teachings of the Bible, and then some group has to make tough choices in order to remain faithful to the Lord."
So you would have gay people stoned to death in the name of your God? Arent you a peach... I guess that "love thy neighbor" that is so often repeated in your book should have an asterisk? Here's an idea, how about you just worry about your flock and tone down the hatred and judgement of everyone else there chum? Shellfish is an abomination according to Leviticus , or does it get a pass for being tasty?
for one that fits in their little box. Yes, it is a shame, but such folks have been around, in one form or another, or one issue or another, for a very long time.
Fortunately, God sent Paul to show us how we should act in resolving differences within the Church as he presents in 1 Corinthians. If we follow these instructions, we will be in God's Will. If after first following these instructions, we cannot be in agreement, we then must do as Jesus suggested. "If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town." Matthew 10:14 NIV You will eventually find another Christian tradition that will share your interpretation.
Dear Bishop, Your book does not apply to everyone.Furthermore your INTERPRETATION of your book does not apply to everyone. Might I suggest you let God do the judgement ? May you be touched by His Noodly Appendage R'amen
Discipline is defined as; reproof/correction, Job 36:10 Discipline of the Church is; rules of practice among a community of believers. This is needed to REMOVE THE WICKED, 1 Corinthians 5:6-13. This discipline is needed to CORRECT DISORDER, 1 Thessalonians 3:6-15. Discipline in the Church is also needed to MAINTAINS SOUND FAITH, Titus 1:10-16. Heres how to impose the DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCH. This is to be done in LOVE 2 Corinthians 2:3-11, for EDIFICATION 2 Corinthians 10:1-12. MEEKNESS Galatians 6:1-10 and done in SUBMISSION Hebrews 13:7-21. I believe there is and always will be HOPE FOR EVERYONE! Hebrews 11:1. Jesus loves you and so do I through him!
3:01 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012 Bill writes "It is very clear in many books of the Bible that homosexualality is a sin " Ignoring for a moment the simple fact that some folks believe the Bible to be nothing more than a compilation of ancient Middle Eastern campfire stories shared when the sheep were tired... Chapter and verse please (degree of difficulty , New Testament only) Or are you one of those that points to Leviticus to condemn homosexuality while eating lunch at red lobster in your cotton/poly shirt Bill ? Are you actively engaged in scheduling the required stonings? Whatever shall I wear ? Didnt Jesus lift the mosaic law? So what you have left is a bit of Paul's "opinion " ( IMO if he existed he was a closeted self loathing homosexual himself) Paul being "only " a man and not any sort of divine being vague references to "sexual immorality" which are most certainly up for personal interpretation , one man's sexual immorality is another's "Saturday night" ..So it would appear that a reasonable "Christian" could easily reconcile homosexuality AND the bible .. There , of course , is the other issue. What the people of this church believe to be "the truth and the word" may differ from your beliefs...Shocking I know but your personal religious beliefs apply only to yourselves. Deal with it And may you be touched by His Noodly Appendage R'amen Sincerely The Shaman of Lama Dingdong (Feb 2011)