Presbyterians Urged to End Ban on Gays

Presbyterians Urged to End Ban on Gays

Tue Jun 29, 6:05 AM ET


By JUSTIN BERGMAN, Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. - Martha Juillerat served as pastor of her small Presbyterian church in rural Minnesota for 15 years until she came out as a lesbian and was forced to step down.



She urged fellow Presbyterians who gathered Monday at the church's national legislative assembly to lift the ban on ordaining gays and lesbians as ministers, elders and deacons in the church.


"Sometimes it is more than I can bear that this church has decided to discriminate against an entire class of people," Juillerat urged a committee considering a proposal to eliminate the ban. "I know that this church can do better."


The committee was scheduled to make a recommendation on the matter Tuesday. The full assembly was expected to vote on that later this week.


Liberals in the 2.4 million-member church have pushed for years to allow ordination of gays and lesbians. The issue promises to be the most divisive of the weeklong Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) legislative assembly.


About 8,000 Presbyterians are taking part in the assembly at Richmond's Convention Center.


During the open hearing Monday, gays and lesbians said the Presbyterians' stance on homosexuality is driving young people away at a time when the church is struggling to retain its numbers.


Heather Reichgott, a student at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, said she cannot be ordained after she graduates because she is planning to marry her high school sweetheart, who is a woman. The ban on gay clergy leaves her uncertain about her place in the church.


"I want nothing more than to serve (the Lord) for the rest of my life, but the policy of this denomination says that I cannot because of the gender of my partner," she said.


Conservatives say the Scriptures denounce homosexuality, and many are seeking new church leadership to clamp down on the ordination ban, which is sometimes loosely enforced.


"God, the creator, planned marriage for a man and a woman," said the Rev. Kristine Hileman, moderator of the Donegal, Pa., presbytery. "We as God's people need to follow Jesus' teaching."

So we should give up God's teachings in order to get more people into the flock? If we water down our faith and Christianity, then we are nothing more than the Charlatan Jews who interpreted the Bible and Old Testament for their own benifit.

Christ teaches us that homosexuality is sinful. If we allow sinful behiavour in our flock and not say anything then we are just as sinful. Remember the prayer: "Forgive me for the things I have done, and the things I have not done. Forgive me for the things I have said and the things I have not said."

Who are we to interpret the bible???

I believe in the whole Bible...not just the parts I like...

This really upsets me...