The Ordination of Homosexuals

The specific issue of homosexuality first arose as several presbyteries (regional governing bodies within presbyterian churches) requested guidance from the General Assembly on ordaining avowed practicing homosexuals. In 1976, a General Assembly said:

“. . . it would at the present time be injudicious, if not improper, for a presbytery to ordain to the professional ministry of the gospel a person who is an avowed practicing homosexual . . .”(7) This particular General Assembly also “. . . direct[ed] that a task force be established . . . to study these issues . . .”(8) The 1978 General Assembly received the report of this task force and declared in its definitive guidance: “That unrepentant homosexual practice does not accord with the requirements for ordination…”(9) set forth in the church’s constitution.

In 1993, the General Assembly adopted the recommendation of its Advisory Committee on the Constitution which stated that:

“. . . current constitutional law in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is that self-affirming, practicing homosexual persons may not be ordained as ministers of the Word and Sacrament, elders, or deacons.”(10)

In 1997, the approval by a majority of presbyteries of an amendment to the Book of Order known as “Amendment B” (now section G-6.0106b) makes constitutional the following language:

Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

Carol Brooks