Monday, April 27, 2009
Presbyterians vote (again) to exclude gay clergy
1 comments
Once again, efforts to allow gays and lesbians to serve as clergy in the U.S.A. Presbyterian Church have failed. From MSNBC:
The good news? The vote was extremely close - much closer than it was in previous years, showing that support for openly gay clergy is growing. I suppose more and more people are realizing that the point of religion is not to exclude people because they're different, but to accept with open arms anyone and everyone who wants to worship. Such a simple concept... so why is it so hard for people to grasp?
Last summer, the 2.3 million-member denomination's General Assembly voted to drop a constitutional requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness."
Any such change requires approval by a majority of the nation's 173 presbyteries, or regional church bodies. Those votes have been trickling in for months, and on Saturday enough "no" votes had been recorded to clinch the measure's defeat.
The good news? The vote was extremely close - much closer than it was in previous years, showing that support for openly gay clergy is growing. I suppose more and more people are realizing that the point of religion is not to exclude people because they're different, but to accept with open arms anyone and everyone who wants to worship. Such a simple concept... so why is it so hard for people to grasp?
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May 12, 2009 at 11:04 PM
Yes, everyone should be allowed to worship and come to the cross for the forgiveness of their sins. Whether they are heterosexual sins or homosexual sins or any type of sin. Sin is sin and it is all in need of forgiveness. That is the great thing about a church that is being the body of Christ, they will accept anyone and show them the love, healing and forgiveness found in Christ.