PCUSA Leaking From Other End

from Stand Firm by David Fischler 

Well, “leaking” may be too strong a word–one church is really no more than a very small dribble. Nevertheless, it is interesting to see that there are those for whom the Presbyterian Church (USA) is not moving fast enough. From Reuters:

As throngs of religious conservatives break from the U.S. Presbyterian Church over the ordination of gay ministers, a small gay-led California parish is staging a schism of its own, saying the church has done too little to accept homosexuality.

The West Hollywood Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles plans to formally join the ranks of the more liberal United Church of Christ on Saturday.

“I can’t wait” said the Rev. Dan Smith, a gay pastor who has led the progressive congregation with about 57 members since the 1980s. “It’s like being released from an abusive relationship,” he told Reuters. “We’re ready to be set free.”

Apparently the mere presence of people in a denomination who don’t approve of his sexual practices is too much for Rev. Smith. Gotta wonder, though: given that the rules were just changed last year to allow sexually active gay pastors in the PCUSA, how exactly has he been pastoring at West Hollywood since the 1980s? Why didn’t he and his little band decamp to the UCC long ago, rather than waiting until victory had been achieved?

The church allows its ministers to bless gay unions but prohibits them from performing same-sex marriages.

By contrast, the United Church of Christ allows gay and lesbian weddings and has long welcomed gay clergy.

The Presbyterian Church’s highest court recently ordered the Rev. Jane Spahr rebuked for performing state-sanctioned gay and lesbian marriages in California, including the marriage of the Rev. Lisa Bove and Renna Killen.

Ah, that must be it. Of course, “rebuked” essentially means they wagged their finger in her general direction and said, “you’re not allowed to do this, at least until the next time you do it.” But still, who likes getting fingers wagged in their vicinity and harshed with tepid language?

Bove, Killen and their 10- and 13-year-old daughters belong to the West Hollywood church, and the Rev. Smith officiated at their wedding alongside Spahr. As a lifelong Presbyterian, Bove, 51, said she felt sad about her church’s move.

“But I’m not sad for the congregation,” she said. “All people deserve the chance to be loved, to know that their parent church body is proud of them and celebrates their gifts.
“The United Church of Christ is proud to have us. Presbyterians are just waking up to tolerate us. We want our gifts celebrated, not just simply tolerated.”

This, of course, is where the real answer lies. For the folks at WHPC, all must bow to the god of gay. Homosexual behavior must be proclaimed as the most fantabulous thing evah, or else they will feel all rejected and stuff. And we can’t have that, now can we?