The Presbyterian church has suffered declining membership and internal
division over theological issues, Biblical interpretations, increasing
bureaucracy, and the controversial ordination of practicing homosexuals.
By attempting to be as "inclusive" as possible, some of the church
leadership believe it has doomed itself to division.
Church leaders are wary of schism, and are trying to avert such a move.
However, many members, and leaders, are uncomfortable with what they
feel is a departure from strict Biblical prohibitions against active
homosexuality.
The Presbyterian church is one of the few Christian
organizations that ordains openly homosexual ministers.
One of the proposed possibilities is to divide the church, creating a
new "reformed" body and allowing individual presbyteries to vote on
which side of the issue they prefer to stay.
The two bodies of the
church, traditional and reformed, would remain under a single
bureaucratic umbrella.
Perils of a theological democracy
The Presbyterian Church is governed by a constitution that was changed
in May to allow for ordination of practicing homosexuals.
The change did
not compel churches to ordain gay ministers, but removed barriers to
ordination, leaving the issue up to individual churches.
The heart of the problem is the church's operation as a quasi-democratic
institution. Many prefer the an all-inclusive interpretation of the
Gospels which allows anyone to participate as clergy.
Others adhere to
an orthodox interpretation which emphasizes sexual morality and excludes
active homosexuals and lesbians.
The Presbyterian church allows
churches and individuals to choose their interpretations of some
scriptures.
Church leaders believe they can weather the controversy and preserve the
church from schism.
They have called upon God in prayer to guide their
decisions, to provide vision and unity.
How those prayers will be
answered remains an open question.
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