After narrowly rejecting an attempt to redefine marriage as two persons instead of man and woman this afternoon, the Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly this evening further declined an “authoritative interpretation” allowing clergy to perform same sex marriage where legal. Instead the assembly voted by 75 percent for further study. Earlier this week the church’s newly appointed vice moderator resigned after controversy over her having conducted a same sex wedding in Washington, DC. The assembly, meeting in Pittsburgh, adjourns tomorrow. As the governing body of the 1.9 million member denomination it meets every two years.
Meanwhile, concerned Presbyterians have released a “Pittsburgh Declaration” affirming their denomination’s official biblical stance.
Here is news release from Theology Matters, headed by IRD board member Sue Cyre, and whose fellow, Alan Wisdom, is also an IRD fellow:
Contact: Alan Wisdom, Fellow
Phone: 703-300-5223 (cell); aewisdom@verizon.net
http://www.theologymatters.com THEOLOGY MATTERS
PRESS RELEASE
Presbyterians Grateful that Marriage Definition Retained
July 6, 2012
“The revisionists’ victory, it turns out, is not the inevitability that they boasted.”
– Alan Wisdom, Fellow at Theology Matters
Pittsburgh, PA—Today the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) turned back attempts to revise the denomination’s definition of marriage. The assembly rejected an “authoritative interpretation” of the PCUSA constitution that would have allowed ministers to marry same-sex couples holding a civil marriage license. It also refused amendments to the denomination’s Book of Order that would have struck all references to “a man and a woman” marrying and replaced them with language about “two people” marrying.
The result is that the PCUSA Book of Order still declares, “For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship.” Likewise, the PCUSA Book of Confessions still defines Christian marriage as a “spiritual and physical union [of] one man and one woman.”
Theology Matters has released today a declaration responding to the General Assembly decision. Presbyterians are adding their names to this Pittsburgh Declaration on Marriage on the Theology Matters website at www.theologymatters.com.
Theology Matters fellow Alan Wisdom commented:
“We are grateful for faithful commissioners in Pittsburgh who spoke and voted to uphold the marriage of man and woman. Once again, the PCUSA General Assembly has stepped back from the precipice of redefining marriage. The revisionists’ victory, it turns out, is not the inevitability that they boasted.
“Yet the closeness of the vote warns us against complacency. The debate on marriage is far from over. There will be study, dialogue, and new overtures in local churches and presbyteries over the next two years. We know we will face the same debate in 2014 and beyond. Faithful Presbyterians must be ready to engage that debate, with truth and grace, over the long haul.
“In adopting this Pittsburgh Declaration, we vow to resist the ongoing attempt to redefine Christian marriage. We commit ourselves to a new Marriage Initiative to restore a biblical understanding of marriage in our church and culture, so that men, women, and children may flourish.”
Pittsburgh Declaration on Marriage July 6, 2012
The following is a declaration issued by concerned Presbyterians at the close of the General Assembly in Pittsburgh. They are responding to the Assembly’s refusal to usurp God’s authority and redefine marriage from a man and a woman to any two people who have a marriage license. Fellow Presbyterians are invited to add their endorsements and send them to the postal or email address below.
The definition of marriage remains unchanged. No General Assembly has the power to redefine marriage. No government has the power to redefine marriage. No public opinion poll can alter the nature of marriage. God is the author of marriage, and God alone has the authority to define marriage. We will obey God.
Jesus told us what marriage is. Answering a question from the Pharisees, he pointed back to God’s design in creation: “Have you not read that the one who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’?” (Matthew 19:4-6a) We have no Lord but Jesus.
The constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) still upholds this biblical understanding of marriage. The Westminster Confession teaches, “Christian marriage is an institution ordained of God, blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ, established and sanctified for the happiness and welfare of mankind, into which spiritual and physical union one man and one woman enter” (6.133). The church can bless only the relationships that God blesses. It has no authority to bless that which God does not bless.
The Book of Order still says, “For Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship” (W-4.9001).
Whatever others may do, our consciences are “captive to the Word of God as interpreted in the standards of the church” (G-2.0105). We will continue to resist any efforts to depart from the biblical, confessional teaching on the marriage of man and woman.
In the face of our culture’s devaluing of marriage, we will offer a Christian counter- witness in our congregations, communities, and families. We commit ourselves to teach, practice, and celebrate the “great mystery” of marriage: God’s gracious gift by which the two created sexes, male and female, “become one flesh” with a love that images the love between Christ and his Church (Ephesians 5:31-32). To God be the glory!
Presbyterians for Faith, Family and Ministry/ Theology Matters
P.O. Box 3940, Fredericksburg, VA 22402 ▪ www.theologymatters.com ▪ 540-898-4244 ▪ scyre@swva.net
Comment by barb on July 6, 2012 at 10:58 pm
As a Presbyterian, I am very happy to hear this!!! Thank the Lord not all Presbyterians have crumbled under political correctness!!! AMEN!!!
Comment by LA Brother on July 9, 2012 at 1:34 am
Presbyterians are finally fighting back against the attack on marriage by liberals within the denomination which are destroying the church. Stand on the Word of God, PCUSA – and fight on!
Comment by Dr. Bob on July 9, 2012 at 11:43 am
I am also glad for the outcome but the narrowness of the vote is concerning. Clearly, too many Presbyterians do not rely on the Scriptures for their judgement on this question… and other questions. What we need in our denomination is education in God’s Word. What is the Scriptural case in favor of homosexuality and same gender marriage? There isn’t one… if we adhere to the Scriptures. I say this as a Presbyterian elder.
Comment by DB on July 9, 2012 at 2:08 pm
The Bible clearly states that ‘there is neither male nor female, there is no Jew nor Greek, there is no longer slave or free, we are all one in Christ’. God does not discriminate and to God men and women are the same. Treating Christian marriage between same-sex couples as somehow less ideal or different than Christian marriage between different-sex couples is a grave mistake. Some day the Church will follow Christ and celebrate all Christians marriages as equal. Please pray that this day comes soon. As Presbyterians we must turn away from the sins of sexism, racism, and homophobia and stop trying to go against God’s plan. God created people, gay and heterosexual, in Him image. God does not believe that love is sinful.
Comment by bobblaylock on July 9, 2012 at 3:31 pm
The grave mistake is in abandoning the moral standards that God has clearly set, in favor of the lack of moral standards as dictated by an amoral popular culture.
Comment by tree man on July 9, 2012 at 2:24 pm
your argument is taken out of context—-the context of this statement is when we are in Spirit—certainly you must not believe that Sodom and Gmorrah were just God’s urban renewal projects—-why would he make woman if what you say is true—why would He say be fruitful and multiply—your answer like all false doctrine will never hold water—
Comment by Marc on July 9, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Not everyone shares the same faith or values ad you do, and it isn’t right that you should force those same values on others. The decline in the Christian faith is due to those of faith forcing others to follow their beliefs. And let’s not forget ” let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.”
Comment by Bob Blaylock on July 9, 2012 at 3:27 pm
No. The decline of the Christian faith is a consequence—in large part—of the abandonment of those values and standards that God has clearly set, in favor of those being set by popular culture and political correctness. When a “Christian” organization embraces as normal and acceptable those things that God has clearly condemned as immoral and unacceptable, then that organization is contributing directly to the fall of the Christian faith.
Comment by Terry Lee Hovey on July 9, 2012 at 4:28 pm
There’s no decline in the christian faith…there is just an increase of unbeliever’s attending church due to false, “feel good” evangelism. The decline of a particular denomination may occur when teaching the Word becomes watered down and true believers move to other fellowships. The christian faith, however, is very strong indeed. Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith…how can he decline when He holds all things together by the Word of His power?
Comment by James on July 10, 2012 at 11:59 am
The decline of the Christian faith is a consequence of a human race that is increasingly more rational, less superstitious, better educated, more understanding of how the universe works, more tolerant of others, and generally more informed. The “values and standards that God has clearly set” include child-beating, acceptance of slavery, and the submissiveness of women, among many other things. Fortunately, humanity is outgrowing its reliance on ancient books and unseen Gods as the arbiters of modern morals and ethics.
Comment by Karen Nyman on July 9, 2012 at 3:14 pm
No one is forcing anyone to follow their beliefs. People can still choose to engage in any behavior they choose. However, just because someone states something does not make it the truth. Truth comes from the Word of truth–Jesus Christ.
God DID create marriage. He specifically stated it was a covenant between a man and a woman. There is no other kind. Homosexuals are free to “practice” their lifestyle but they are not guaranteed the right to marry–doing so would be illogical based on the Biblical definition of marriage (as already stated).
Comment by Terry Lee Hovey on July 9, 2012 at 4:18 pm
So sad that it even came up for vote…and that the vote was “narrow”. Mainline churches wonder why people are leaving in droves…this is why. When a church gets away from the teaching of God’s Word as authoritative…God’s people start to leave.
Comment by Paul on July 10, 2012 at 10:15 am
My son is a homosexual. As a Christian I cannot imagine the pain he will have to endure from this life. I still cannot accept a change in the definition of marriage any more than I can change the definition of saved by grace through the blood of Jesus Christ. I cannot change what God has ordained as in marriage being between a Man and a woman. The bible is true and sure but it doesn’t mean it’s easy or difficult to believe and have faith. All of our choices take courage and conviction even if it is a difficult and painful road to travel. God’s Word is true whether my actions line up with it is my problem not His. The Lord gives grace to the humble and that is where I have to leave this issue – Grace.
Comment by Will McGarvey on July 12, 2012 at 12:33 am
The definition of marriage has changed multiple times over the years. The biblical norm for much of it’s history was patriarchal polygamy (some wives, some concubines) where women were treated like property. (Just asking, is that why you capitalized Man and not woman in your post, or was that inadvertent?)
Jews didn’t give up polygamy in Europe until the 10th century. What many in the PC (USA) are attempting to preserve is a European definition of marriage that favors heteronormativity and child rearing. It is also ahistorical, not recognizing the many rites between same gender loving Christians like Bachus and Sergius and those in the middle ages until the 14th century.
The definition has always been a cultural one that people have used the Bible to bless. For those who desired polygamy, much to cite. For those who want Roman monogamy Genesis and Matt 19 work, even though Jesus was discussing divorce in a way that wouldn’t let his contemporaries treat women like property. Given the research on family acceptance (http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/publications#family_education), perhaps you can best support your son by showing acceptance of him, or you will inadvertantly increase the possibility of suicidal ideation, risky drug use, or risky sex.
Comment by Codi on July 12, 2012 at 6:43 am
I carefully observed this year’s 220th PCUSA General Assembly. Although I did not take an actual tally of numbers, I encountered a revealing fact: a majority of speakers who referenced actual Scripture and God’s authority were also opposed to a redefinition of marriage.
Sola Scriptura, brothers and sisters!
James 1:5 — But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Comment by James L. Schroth on August 3, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Where do you sign The Declaration on Marriage?
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Comment by Lynn Bridgman/Esther Bridgman on September 3, 2012 at 9:34 pm
Sign us up on thePittsburgh Declaration of Marriage