His position shows more openness than may appear at first

by Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Society Issues Analyst

[11-30-01]

George Hunsinger, the McCord Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Seminary, has issued a personal statement in the Nov. 26^th issue of Presbyterian Outlook, as his contribution to the current debate on ordination and Amendment 01-A. He offers 78 "theses for the crisis on our church," which appear to stand with traditional interpretations of scripture and views of sexuality to urge the rejection of Amendment 01-A.

He seems to have fulfilled what is expected of the Karl Barth professor at Princeton Theological Seminary in his 78 Theses on Amendment A.

At first I was going to criticize him not only for fitting into the conservative mood of PTS but, even worse, for being undialectical, since he started with dire assertions (Thesis 7). It soon turned out that he was being very dialectical, with the No first, but leading into a Yes.

He points out that the meaning of chastity is undefined in G-6 (#12), although he could have added that our confessions call marriage "continency itself" (G-5.246). He goes on to affirm the "plain sense of Scripture," but suggests that we need to ask what this "means today for the church" (#17), and he calls for a comprehensive approach to sexuality, heterosexual and homosexual alike (#18).

He reminds us of the approval of celibacy as well as marriage in the New Testament, adding that lifelong celibacy is considered a gift (#34); he might also have noted the confessions' disapproval of "entangling vows of single life" C-7.249), on the basis of bad experience with required celibacy during the middle ages.

In our own day, he goes on to say, "living together" is a new fact, the result of late marriage, contraception, and other factors. At the same time he insists that this be acknowledged only on the basis of mutual commitment and readiness for marriage, making it a de facto or provisional sort of marriage.

Then he suggests that same-sex relationships can be accommodated within this toleration for "ambiguous situations that are improper but not intolerable" (#51), as long as there is mutual commitment and a readiness for permanent covenantal union.

While he thinks that homosexuality is involuntary but unfortunate, he is prepared to recognize same-sex partnerships (not "marriage") as a "relative sanctification of an involuntary yet 'unnatural' condition" (#60), as an "important witness to the power of the gospel in a broken world" (#64), and to be accepted while promiscuity is to be rejected.

The bottom line is that he would keep G-6.0106b in the Book of Order but interpret it with "generosity and practical wisdom"; this, he says, is the true Third Way (#78). And he would leave judgments to sesions and presbyteries (#69).

This is not exactly the language that advocates for gays and lesbians have been looking for; they will doubtless regard it as condescending at best. And yet Hunsinger is calling for exactly what many of those advocates have also asked for--to have the same expectations of lesbians and gays that we have of heterosexuals, i.e., that they be in faithful and committed relationships.

Hunsinger has certainly opened up a new dimension of the debate. And if Amendment A should lose in the presbyteries (not yet a foregone conclusion by any means), there could be proposals for a new "authoritative interpretation" along these lines. We'll have to see what the polity wonks in the ACC and the OGA think of that!

I am not sure that what Hunsinger wants can be accomplished if G-6.0106b stays in the Book of Order, for there is still the definition of marriage as between "one man and one woman." What he wants to accomplish might be done most effectively by deleting G-6. But if we take Karl Barth and George Hunsinger seriously--that is, if Christian theology is more than legalistic casuistry and seeks to be open to the grace of God even in the midst of ambiguous situations--then he may be on to something.

GA actions ratified (or not) by  the presbyteries   

A number of the most important actions of the 219^th General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries, confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.

We provided resources to help inform the reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.

Our three areas of primary interest have been:

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