A Disappointing Day

Last Saturday, the PCUSA Presbytery of East Tennessee, at Farragut Presbyterian Church, voted 81-66 in favor of ordaining gay people, in an active relationship, to eldership and ministry.

Although I value the democratic process, I must confess that the decision was disappointing to me.

Over the years, several issues have smothered mainline churches with what I call ‘theological kudzu.’ This issue of gay ordination is just another layer. The world has influenced the Church so much in recent decades ( abortion, stem cell research, and gay ordination) that it is no longer distinguishable – what we used to call ‘holy’ – from the world.

IMHO, I believe that if this trend continues, mainline churches will make themselves insignificant, both to the world that they crave, and to Christ’s True Kingdom.

O Lord, Your Church is broken,
And I am wounded, too.
I come to You for guidance
To show me what to do.
The world has been unceasing
To make the Church the same;
Yet we were made for praising,
And worshipping Your Name.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.