An Open Letter to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
October 2001

You can read this letter also on the site of the Presbyterian Coalition.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Once again our denomination is embroiled in a debate regarding ordination standards. Over the course of the next several months our presbyteries will be voting on the proposed Amendment A. How our presbyteries vote on this amendment will profoundly affect the denominational landscape of our church for years to come.

We believe that Amendment A threatens the peace, unity, and purity of our church, and we strongly urge presbyteries to vote against it so that it does not become part of our Book of Order. The biblical and confessional standards of fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness have been the standards of the Church of Jesus Christ for two millennia, and it is unwise for the PC (USA) to alter those standards now.

Some people say, Amendment A grants freedom of conscience. However, they overlook the fact that officers of the church are free to move only within the parameters of the standards of the church, and that the conscience must be held captive to the Word of God.

Some people say, The sexual practices of officers are among the non-essential matters of the faith. We would suggest that the Bible takes seriously the matter of ethics, including sexual ethics for leader of the church. A person''s sexual lifestyle is hardly a matter of indifference, especially for leaders of the church.

Some people say, ''Amendment A will enhance the unity of the church. Not only does Amendment A threaten schism to the PC (USA), but also ecumenical mission partners around the world have indicated that if this amendment is approved, they will reconsider their association with the PC (USA) and perhaps sever ties with our denomination. Amendment A would be disastrous for the unity of the church.

Some people say, Local option will bring an end to these divine debates. In actuality, the debates will simply be delegated to local governing bodies. Each and every presbytery and session will be forced to develop its own standards for ordination, and debates and legal challenges will only proliferate. In addition, since advocates for Amendment A believe the ordination of homosexuals is a matter of justice, they cannot in good conscience rest with local option. For conscience''s sake, they must seek to make the ordination of homosexuals mandatory.

Some people say, Jesus never addressed the matter of homosexuality, so it must not have mattered to him. Jesus also never directly mentioned rape, pedophilia, bestiality incest or polygamy. Are we, therefore, to conclude that these sexual practices were acceptable with him as well? In addition, Jesus publicly broke with convention on important matters and spoke out against them, yet apparently he agreed with the strict Jewish law that prohibited homosexual practice in his time. Would not his silence more logically point to his concurrence with the Jews in this matter?

Some people say, The vote on G-6.0106b was close. However, these advocates ignore the larger voting record of the church. In dozen of votes over 25 years, General Assemblies and presbyteries alike have repeatedly upheld the traditional Christian sexual ethic. Amendment A is an aberration, not just of a generation of votes by faithful Presbyterians, but of two millennia of the Christian understanding of things.

Some people say, The denomination is evenly divided on this matter. On the contrary, the Presbyterian Panel continues to show that 75% of Presbyterians favor traditional sexual ethic.

Some people say, Amendment A is the third way for which many have hoped in finding a compromise to these divisive matters. In fact, Amendment A is precisely a winner-take-all legislative answer radicals have sought for a generation. Amendment A is, as one noted lesbian activist in the church has said, The whole enchilada! It is not a compromise that addresses the concerns of Presbyterians committed to our historical understanding of biblical ethics.

Some people say, The church has changed its views on women, slavery and divorce. Homosexuality is simply the next in a long line of enlightenments. However, they ignore the many proposed revisions that the church has rejected across the centuries, precisely because the revision lacked any scriptural foundation. Amendment A is just such an example. It has no biblical foundation and must be rejected.

We urge elder and minister commissioners to our presbyteries this year to vote against Amendment A, and we call upon our denomination to uphold the biblical standards for human sexuality that are taught throughout the Scriptures and our Confessions. Our very future as a denomination is at stake. God help us.

In the service of Christ, and this church.

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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