Religious coalition express alarm over Presbyterians' vote on same-sex unions

Abstract

"It is shocking to think that Presbyterians think they have the option of voting for or against God's clear teachings about homosexuality as outlined in the Bible," said [Sheldon]. "What this tells me is that the leadership of this denomination has very little commitment to the truths of God's Word."

Sheldon's words were echoed earlier this year by Alan F.H. Wisdom, vice president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C. Writing in the conservative magazine, "The Presbyterian Layman," Wisdom observed, "Conservatives may quote Bible verses condemning sodomy and fornication; however, large segments of our religious elites no longer regard the Bible as authoritative in the church. And they certainly do not believe that Christians should `impose' Biblical principles on others."

Religious coalition express alarm over Presbyterians' vote on same-sex unions

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Traditional Values Coalition Chairman Rev. Louis P. Sheldon expressed alarm over the Presbyterian Church USA's vote against banning same-sex unions.

"As a conservative Presbyterian minister, I am appalled that fellow Presbyterians would vote against the institution of marriage and against God's moral laws about homosexuality and premarital sex," said Sheldon. "This vote signals a further drift away from biblical morality as the final word on sexual issues."

On March 14, the Presbyterian Church USA announced the results of a vote on Amendment O, a proposal that was offered last year to overturn a policy set by the denomination's high court. The court had ruled that while the church is still prohibited from conducting homosexual marriages, it could conduct same-sex "holy union" ceremonies. In a separate decision, the court also found that a homosexual ministerial candidate who plans to actively engage in homosexual sex acts, should not be excluded from ministerial training.

"It is shocking to think that Presbyterians think they have the option of voting for or against God's clear teachings about homosexuality as outlined in the Bible," said Sheldon. "What this tells me is that the leadership of this denomination has very little commitment to the truths of God's Word."

The Presbyterian Church USA will also vote this summer on a proposal to repeal a requirement that clergy and lay officers be in heterosexual marriages or live in "chastity in singleness."

"If this recent vote is any indication of the liberal drift of this denomination, I expect that these Presbyterians will also vote in favor of allowing premarital sex for its leadership," said Sheldon.

Sheldon's words were echoed earlier this year by Alan F.H. Wisdom, vice president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington, D.C. Writing in the conservative magazine, "The Presbyterian Layman," Wisdom observed, "Conservatives may quote Bible verses condemning sodomy and fornication; however, large segments of our religious elites no longer regard the Bible as authoritative in the church. And they certainly do not believe that Christians should `impose' Biblical principles on others."

"I am fearful that if current trends continue, the Presbyterian Church USA will become simply another victim of homosexual aggression. It will cease to be a prophetic voice for God in the world, but a tool of homosexual political agendas," said Sheldon. "This is a tragedy of immense proportions because the souls of men and women are at stake in this controversy."

(The Traditional Values Coalition is an interdenominational public policy organization comprising more than 43,000 churches across the continental United States and Puerto Rico. For more information, contact Christy Moore at 202-547-8570. TVC's web site is: www.traditionalvalues.org.)