Presbyterian Churches Mull Changes

On May 10, the Presbyterian Church (USA) changed its ordination requirements. After four decades of being voted down, Amendment 10-A passed by a majority vote.  This effects ordination standards within the Presbyterian (USA) denomination, including Snellville's and .

The wording that says that ordained leaders within the church – including ministers, elders, and deacons – should live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” has been removed.  

Now, each governing body is responsible for their own standard rather than adhering to a national one.  

The new standard places an enormous burden on pastors. The issue was first raised during the 1970s, but it was voted down three times. The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta, one out of 173 separate presbyteries, voted in favor of the changes, though Snellville's Westminster and the Church of the Redeemer did not.  

“It strips out the specific language about sexual conduct,” said the Rev. Mike Garrett, pastor at Westminster Presbyterian.  “It basically says that the decisions now become local. Every church will decide for itself how it reads scripture in terms of sexual standards that govern its elders and deacons.” 

According to a letter sent by Pastor Garrett to his congregation, “the explicit prohibition of ordaining practicing gays and lesbians is removed. Standards for heterosexuals are less clear.”  

A nationwide letter sent by Presbyterian leaders said that the changes will affect the church in two ways: 

• In keeping with our historic principles of church order, each session and presbytery will continue to determine the suitability of individuals seeking ordination within its bounds.
• Persons in a same-gender relationship may be considered for ordination and/or installation as deacons, elders, and ministers of the Word and Sacrament within the Presbyterian Church (USA) 

"At this point we don’t know anything and have made no decisions," said the Rev. John Byerly of the Church of the Redeemer.  "We are unhappy with the decision but want to be careful with what we say."  

"We have really moved away from the biblical standards," the Rev. Byerly added.  His congregation met on June 5 to discuss how they will react to the changes.

“For some churches, they can not be connected to a national body that goes that way,” said Garrett, who has been serving at Westminster since 2005. His congregation will meet later this month.

He said that each church can respond in one of three ways. “One, you accept it; two, you leave; or three, create a middle way, which is to create an association of churches within the denomination that do not accept the standard.” 

It seems that the third alternative is the one local churches are looking at most seriously. A separate association, which calls itself Fellowship Presbyterian, issued a statement on May 26 saying that they are "committed to starting a new Reformed body without leaving the PC (USA)."  

Pastors Garrett and Byerly are both listed as supporters of this new association. The new fellowship sees this as the least divisive reaction, while maintaining scriptural integrity.

The fellowship's first official gathering will be held August 25-26 in Minneapolis, Minn.  

The changes to the national ordination standards will go into effect on July 10.