PASTOR’S
CORNER – NOVEMBER 2008
“Ecclesia reformata,
semper reformanda,” is
Latin, meaning “The Church reformed, always reforming.” It is a key concept of
the constitution of the PCUSA church. According to a recent writing by Michael
D. Bush, my previous advisor on preparation for ministry, the phrase speaks to
the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding the church ever closer to conformity
with the Word of God. In effect, the Reformation of the sixteenth century never
ends because the church is comprised of people who sin, and the need to correct
mistakes is never completed.
Reformed, always reforming.
If you are a long time Presbyterian, the chances are great that you have heard
that expression before. It is part of our Book of Order (G-2.0200), and part of
our heritage as a Reformed Church. It adds special meaning to our commemoration
of the Reformation each year, and invites us to constantly search for ways to
be more faithful to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
In response to this reality,
each meeting of our General Assembly is accompanied by a number of requests for
change. Those which impact our constitution must be approved by a majority vote
of all the churches within the denomination. The member churches of the
Stockton Presbytery vote on overtures to this year’s General Assembly at their
meeting in
Most of these items are
relatively small in their impact. However, there is one issue that is
controversial and of interest to many in our congregation. Amendment 08-B seeks
to change wording in several sections of the Book of Order so that persons
practicing homosexual lifestyles will not be automatically excluded from
serving as deacons, elders, or ministers in the churches of the PCUSA denomination.
In making this proposal, the
Presbytery of Boston states that this change is consistent with emphasizing the
personal responsibility of church leaders to live according to Biblical
standards. However, I do not believe we can accept this justification at face
value. If the intention were an honest attempt to improve our standards, the
new wording would still reflect the intention of the majority of our membership
in regard to this issue. That is not the case.
I and the members of your session decided to vote “no” on this amendment in
light of the many Scriptural admonitions prohibiting sexual activity outside of
marriage. It is no more appropriate for church leaders who practice
homosexuality to publicly demonstrate a promiscuous lifestyle than it is for
those who are heterosexual in their orientation. In short, the Bible states
clearly that sex outside of marriage is a sin, that homosexuality is a sin, and
that it is a sin for Christians to persist in public disregard of God’s laws
and their effect upon our behaviors.
I pray that the majority of our denomination’s churches
will feel compelled to also follow the clear statements of the Bible in regard
to these issues. I pray that this amendment will be defeated as it has been in
the past. I pray that our denomination will be able to move beyond this issue
going forward, so that we may focus our efforts on the work of the Church of
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Pastor Nelson