MSM Lies About Presbyterian Church USA

I'm tired of how the MSM misleads and outright lies when it comes to churches, especially when it comes to homosexuality advocacy issues.

Take, for example, this Los Angeles Times headline on Mitchell Landsberg’s article: "Presbyterian Church Votes to Allow Gay Ordination" In the article, it again states:

A debate that has raged within the Presbyterian Church for more than three decades culminated Tuesday with ratification of a measure allowing the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers and lay leaders, while giving regional church bodies the ability to decide for themselves.

Read on.

"This is an important moment in the Christian communion," said Michael Adee, a Presbyterian elder who heads an organization that fought for gay ordination. "I rejoice that Presbyterians are focusing on what matters most: faith and character, not a person's marital status or sexual orientation."

It does matter what a person's marital status is if they are having sex or engaging in sex-like behavior. What is faith, if someone claims to have faith in Jesus Christ but rejects Christ's authority? What is character, if someone claims to be a follower of Christ by does not follow Christ?

It was the fourth time the church had voted on issues related to gay ordination, and the votes reflect a shift in attitudes within the church, and within American society, as public attitudes against homosexuality have softened.

What's God’s attitude? That is what matters. What does the text of the Bible teach?

Linda Fleming, an elder and deacon at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ladera Heights, which hosted the Pacific Presbytery meeting, said she was among those who had changed her mind on the issue in recent years.

"I finally decided at the age of 63 that it is inevitable," she said. "I think it's like letting black people come to white churches, or letting women become ministers. It's inevitable."

Fleming is confusing who someone is by birth with what they choose to do as adults. Also, many Christians believe the world "going to hell" is inevitable, but we're called to follow Christ anyway.

"We can move on," said Brian Symonds, 29, who is hoping to become the first openly gay person ordained by the Pacific Presbytery. "Now the work begins to move forward to what I've been called to do."

I wonder why Symonds didn’t join one of the other churches that already support homosexual behavior in the leadership? Does Symonds claim to be a Christian first, or a Presbyterian first?

The amendment ratified Tuesday changes language in the Presbyterian constitution regarding the "gifts and requirements" of those ordained, whether as clergy or in the lay positions of elder and deacon. Since 1997, the constitution has required those seeking ordination to be living "in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." Now, it will simply require church officials to examine "each candidate's calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office."

So the headline and opening lines of the article are wrong. Homosexual people have already been allowed in leadership, but not if they have openly and unrepentantly engaged in sexual sin. Also, this must mean that straight people can shack up, or openly engage in fornication, and can be in leadership. But the MSM isn't mentioning that. Wonder why?

People on both sides of the issue predicted that the ratification of the amendment would lead some churches to leave the denomination and others to seek more compatible presbyteries. Already, several have requested reassignment to different regions.

If history is any indication, the denomination will continue to wither, while churches that follow the Bible will continue to grow.

DavidPratt at 4:31 AM May 11, 2011 had the standard response from someone who shouldn't bother appealing to Christian pinciples:

Happy to know that another denomination has opened the door wider for all, rather than the narrow, hateful path of the religious fundementalists, who niavely pluck scriptures to suit their prejudice and fear and foolishly take the rich collection of works in the Bible literally, and don't even understand how it was put together in the first place. The Bible says all sorts of things: women should have long hair, you aren't supposed to eat shrimp, men live 900 years, water magically covered every mountain...Paul was writing during the Roman Empire and was a product of his times.

So if someone really disrespects the Bible and Paul so much, why bother joining a church?

There is nothing wrong with someone with homosexual FEELINGS serving in leadership. However, literally from the first book of the Bible to the last, marriage is presented as uniting bride and groom. Also, the entirety of the Bible presents sex as something for marriage, and the New Testament specifically says a man leading the church should be a husband of only one wife (not one husband). The conclusions are inescaple: The Bible teaches that Christians should not engage in sex with someone who isn't their spouse (meaning bride+groom). Now, some things instructed in the Bible were for specific times and places, but clearly the restrictions on sexual behavior still apply. What other aspects of Biblical teaching will they now ignore? How about the part about giving to the church?

The Associated Press had coverage from their Religion writer Rachel Zoll. The AP's headline is also a lie: "Presbyterians Clear Way for Gay Clergy".

After decades of debate, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Tuesday struck down a barrier to ordaining gays, ratifying a proposal that removes the celibacy requirement for unmarried clergy, in the latest mainline Protestant move toward accepting gay relationships.

Again, this would also allow straight fornication, but where is the mention of that?

"It's a thrilling day," said Sylvia Thorson-Smith, an elder at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Ariz., whose family advocates for gays and lesbians in the church. She invited 40 people to her house for a party after the vote was announced. "I can't help but think of those who have worked and suffered and endured and hoped for this. Some have not lived to see it."

Thorson-Smith, I want to thank people like you who ensure that churches like the one I belong to will continue to grow, as Christians leave churches like yours and seek churches with the guts to stick with the Bible.

Top Presbyterian executives issued a statement to the church acknowledging that "some will rejoice while others will weep," at the decision.

"However, as Presbyterians, we believe that the only way we will find God's will for the church is by seeking it together — worshipping, praying, thinking and serving alongside one another," the executives wrote.

How about cracking open a Bible?

The measure approved Tuesday eliminates language in the church constitution requiring that clergy live "in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." The new provision instead requires ministers to "submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life."

What does it mean to do that, if not including your sexuality under His Lordship? How can you submit to His Lordship while publicly and unrepentantly going against it? Would they allow an unrepentant embezzler to serve in leadership, as long as that person claimed to "submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life."? I'm pretty sure sexuality and our bodies are aspects of our lives.

Andrew's Stern’s Reuters piece also has a bad headline: "Presbyterian Church to Ordain Gays as Ministers". I guess "Presbyterian Church to Allow Ordination of Unrepentant Fornicators" wouldn’t work?

The Presbyterian Church voted on Tuesday to allow the ordination of gays, becoming the fourth Protestant denomination in the United States to make the move that experts say reflects a larger cultural shift.

Sloppy.

There's still the Presbyterian Church in America.

Read my previous coverage of this and related issues...

Turning Churches Into Mutual Admmiration Societies
What Would the Los Angeles Times Do?

Homosexuality advocates and...
Presbyterians - here, here, here, here, here, and here
Lutherans - here, here, here, here, here, here, and here
Episcopalians/Anglicans - here, here, here, here, and here
United Methodists - here and here

Also, see Dr. Michael Brown's website.