October 7 - Presbyterian Church USA to Ordain First Gay Minister

Scott Anderson, an official with the Wisconsin Council of Churches, is set to be the first openly homosexual man to be ordained a pastor in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on Saturday.

"The decision to remove sexual conduct from PC(USA) ordination vows is symptomatic of a deeper, ongoing struggle within the church over the authority of holy scripture," said Presbyterian Action Committee Chairman Gary Green. "This action stands in contradiction to the PCUSA confessions of faith, which continue to teach that faithful Christians have the choice either to be faithful in marriage or chaste in singleness."

The ordination comes after a majority of presbyteries in the PC(USA) voted to remove the "fidelity/chastity" standard from the church constitution earlier this year. In July, the standard was changed from one that required either a single man to remain chaste or a married man to remain faithful to his wife, but the new requirement does not address guidance for sexual behavior, nor does it include a biblical reason for why non-marital sexual relationships are now acceptable for ordained ministers.

While the denomination's Book of Confessions still professes that sexual relations should be reserved for marriage between a man and a woman, its ambiguity is flexible enough so that those wishing to do so may ordain church leaders in same-sex or opposite-sex relationships outside of marriage.

However, not all members of the PCUSA agree with the move to ordain open homosexual ministers, and some feel the ordination goes against biblical teachings that homosexuality should be condemned. A conservative group within the Presbyterian denomination, Presbyterians for Renewal, stated the possibility of disassociating with the PC(USA) over conflicting beliefs.