Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rice!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: mib@wookumz.ai.mit.edu (Michael I Bushnell) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Gay Ordination in the Presbyterian Church Message-ID: Date: 9 Mar 91 04:00:41 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Free Software Foundation, Cambridge, MA Lines: 32 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article OFM writes: Second, as to any practical effects: The current stand on homosexuals is murkier than many may realize, and officially accepting them for ordination may not be as much of a change as it sounds. ... ... If the policy changes, it's unlikely that it will change far enough to force presbyteries or sessions to ordain homosexuals if they don't want to. It will more likely simply allow them to make decisions based on their assessment of the individual, which I suspect is what is happening anyway. My personal experience may inject some light here, as well. The moderators comments here are quite correct. In my old congregation, I was considered for selection as an elder, and when I brought up the subject of homosexuality with the relevant individuals, they indicated it would be no bar. I was ultimately not ordained because I was moving out of state. In the only case I'm personally familiar with of the ordination of a minister, the presbytery adopted a "wait and see" attitude, pending the receipt of the committes reports. It seemed quite clear, however, that if the General Assembly reinforced a ban on gay ordination, the presbytery would seriously consider challenging that ban and ordaining anyway. My current congregation is federated between the United Church of Christ and the PCUSA. The UCC permits gay ordination, and the PCUSA (sort of) doesn't. Our church simply ordains whoever it sees fit, and if a challenge is raised (which no one seriously expects) we will point out that non-discrimination is virtually required by the UCC. -mib