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The Marital Spectator
Here Come the Churches
Is acceptance of same-sex unions in the liberal dominated, Mainline Protestant churches inevitable? Not necessarily.
The 2.9 million member Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) just concluded a grueling vote among its 173 presbyteries across America over whether to delete its requirement that church officials uphold "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." And to the surprise of many disappointed liberals and relieved traditionalists, the biblical standard was upheld, by a final vote of 95-78.
Liberal caucus groups insisted they had gained ground. But the original vote ratifying the requirement 12 years ago was not much different: 97-74. As my Presbyterian colleague Alan Wisdom describes here, progressives always claim that inevitable tidal forces of history are behind their latest causes, same-sex unions just the most recent. Reinforcing that attitude are often pessimistic and grumpy conservatives, who sometimes even take grim pleasure in expecting cultural defeat.
Believers in the God of Christians and Jews should know that history's only inevitability is the ultimate triumph of Providence, whose designs do not always coincide with contemporary cultural and political fads. But sometimes even Presbyterians, though ostensibly John Calvin shaped predestinationists, forget who is history's final arbiter. Of course, enthusiasts for same-sex unions will continue to push within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Possibly they will eventually win within that numerically declining denomination. But who knows? Only God.
Opponents of traditional morality have been active for nearly 40 years in all the Mainline churches, which, coincidentally, have all suffered continuous membership decline over the last four decades. Perhaps most famously, the 2 million member Episcopal Church partly caved to the sexual revolution, with its 2003 election of openly homosexual Bishop Gene Robinson. Several formerly Episcopal dioceses have quit the denomination, along with over 200 congregations. Together they are forming a new Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), with over 100,000 members and 700 parishes, whose founding provincial assembly will convene late this month outside Fort Worth, Texas. Former Episcopal Bishop of Pittsburgh Robert Duncan is expected to become its first Archbishop. ACNA will be recognized by numerous Global South Anglican primates, if not by the Archbishop of Canterbury himself.
The old Episcopal Church will itself convene in July with its triennial General Convention in Anaheim, California. Somewhat surprisingly, even after Bishop Robinson's election, the denomination has not formally ratified rites for same-sex unions. Reluctance to further offend the nearly 80 million member global Anglican Communion, most of which is now rooted among conservative Africans, is one factor. The 2006 General Convention, hoping to mollify the Communion, had even called for not electing new bishops "whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and will lead to further strains on communion."
Of course, some liberal Episcopal dioceses have unilaterally touted same-sex rites. But formal ratification by the General Convention, speaking for the whole denomination, would more directly provoke the Anglican Communion and still numerous conservative dioceses, local churches and individuals who remain in the Episcopal Church. The church's House of Bishops, pledged in 2007 "as a body not to authorize public rites for the blessing of same-sex unions." This pledge has not precluded some individual bishops from blessing same sex unions. Likely the General Convention will fall short of openly ratifying same sex rites, while permitting local dioceses to continue as they please.
Staid Lutherans never get as much attention as the more flamboyant Episcopalians, but the 4.7 million Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will meet in August at its quadrennial General Synod in Minneapolis. Currently the ELCA affirms that "all single rostered people, including those who are homosexual in their self-understanding, are expected to abstain from sexual relationships" and, by common understanding, prohibits same-sex unions. A denominational task force, liberal dominated as such committees always are, is urging the Synod to authorize ordination for persons in "lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships." Wary of following the Episcopal Church into schism, and cautious by nature, Lutherans may refer this recommendation to still more stupefying study and dialogue.
More decisively, the 7.9 million (in the U.S.) United Methodist Church has consistently voted to prohibit same sex unions and sexually active homosexual clergy, while affirming sex only within traditional marriage. Its General Conference last year reaffirmed these stances, but thanks to votes by delegates from Africa, where there are 3 million United Methodists. Virtually unique among U.S. Mainline denominations, over a third of United Methodism's members are outside the U.S. If current demographic trends continue, the denomination will have a majority overseas in the near future.
Liberal United Methodists, most of them from declining churches, realize they will never persuade conservative Africans. So liberal bishops and others have proposed partly separating the U.S. church from the Africans with a new U.S. only "regional conference" to decide U.S. church business without African interference. This Spring, local United Methodist conferences in the U.S. and around the world are voting on this plan. Approval by two thirds of all individual votes is required, and so far, the "global segregation plan" is falling short. If it fails, United Methodism seems dead set against accommodation of same-sex unions.
Moving in the opposite direction, the 1.1 million United Church of Christ (UCC) became the only major U.S. denomination formally to endorse "equal marriage rights for all" at its General Synod in 2005. It urged local churches "to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender." But the loosely confederated denomination cannot enforce its policy on member congregations, and probably most local UCC churches do not celebrate same-sex unions. After the vote, the UCC's more traditional Puerto Rican synod voted to withdraw from the UCC, as did over 250 local churches, helping to make the UCC one of America's fastest declining denominations.
Seemingly, if acceptance of same-sex unions is the wave of the future, then so too is the demographic demise of Christianity. But history is unpredictable, and traditional Christianity, so frequently eulogized, is perennially resilient.
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Alfred| 6.5.09 @ 7:28AM
"As my Presbyterian colleague Alan Wisdom describes here, progressives always claim that inevitable tidal forces of history are behind their latest causes, same-sex unions just the most recent. Reinforcing that attitude are often pessimistic and grumpy conservatives, who sometimes even take grim pleasure in expecting cultural defeat. "
I guess Mark Tooley is speaking to me because I have little hope for a cultural victory in this country.
The Left has already achieved near cultural hegemony in the country: education system (including seminaries), philothropic foundations, the media, the arts, courts, etc.
When you control those strategic positions the rest is only a matter of time. Conservatives who think they can win the Culture Wars at the ballot box are kidding themselves. And Consservative who think that battling the Left on silly issues like traditional values are even sillier.
Joe| 6.5.09 @ 7:49AM
* "Yes! You lost and you know it ... now get over it and move on. Tolerance wins. Bigotry loses. "
"Tolerance" -- you use that word quite often. I do not think that it means what you think it means. "sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own."
Alfred| 6.5.09 @ 7:49AM
What is interesting about the Culture Wars is that in fact the Left has proven beyonf a doubt that tolerance does not win. Conservatives have been tolerant to a fault.
Meanwhile, the Left uses Marcusean tactics such a Repressive Tolerance to silence the opposing view. The one media outlet the Left does not have hegemonic control over is radio and we see their tolerant response to that: the "fairness doctrine."
That pretty much sums up what liberal tolerance looks like.
If you want to see what liberal tolerance looks like in action see the following:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaTkGgE-hXA&feature=related
It is nearly impossible for a conservative to give a speech (let alone get hired) at a college campus today. If you think that is bad just wait until they get complete control of the country.
Darin| 6.5.09 @ 7:54AM
Protestants broke away from the Catholic church several hundred years ago because the Catholic church was teaching things not in the Bible as outlined in Martin Luther's 95 Theses. There is a good chance many of the liberal teachings (acceptance of homosexuality, same-sex marriage, etc.) will lead to something similiar within the current Protestant denominations. Indeed, it is already happening as churches leave the Methodists, UCC, Presbyterian, etc. The Bible is very clear that homosexuality is a sin and marriage is between one man and one woman. When a denomination endorses sin as an acceptable practice, it's time to go. True, it is impossible to find a perfect church, for all churches are composed of imperfect people. However, a church must strive to embody the teachings of Christ and his guidelines as written in the Bible. Will the church or it's members always succeed? No. But that doesn't discount the need to continue the attempt and seek forgiveness when we fall short.
Becky| 6.5.09 @ 8:21AM
Churches should be willing to lose members, than willing to lose their message.
The left is not tolerant, has become less so, because it is the natural course that utopian societies follow. When ideas are not freely accepted, the use of force becomes necessary. Gay rights are not really about marriage, etc. Gays love to engage in "outing" those who disagree with them politically, proving that gay bashing is not limited to straights. They out thier opponents to shame and humiliate them about a behavior they share. So, why should I decide it is really that important to upset centuries old ordered society?
Darin| 6.5.09 @ 8:26AM
Hi David,
Yes, it is the same Bible which says a snake talked (also walked upright). Regarding the fruit (the Bible doesn't specifically say apple), eating it in and of itself didn't condemn mankind to hell. Man was specifically told NOT to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and the disobedience led to man's fall. Man condemned himself to hell (defined as eternal separation from God) through the sin of disobedience, but God provided a way to atone for that sin.
Ryan| 6.5.09 @ 8:48AM
What's amazing - and sad - is the consistent movement in the leftward-leaning churches that somehow homosexuality is okay, and they even somehow attempt to use scripture to back it up.
Somehow they try and squeeze in that the greatest thing Christ taught was tolerance...when it was sin that He was most intolerant about!
Part of it also comes from the matter that somehow greater weight is given to what Christ DID rather than what He SAID, which more often explained His actions beyond just being nice to people.
Darin| 6.5.09 @ 8:49AM
Hi David,
"You cannot seriously read a book filled with mythology and take it seriously. Can you?"
I can't take a book filled with mythology seriously, but the Bible is not filled with mythology. Parts of it are sometimes hard to understand, but that's due to our own limitations. You might want to read up on C.S. Lewis. He was a British thinker in the 1940's and was originally an atheist who later converted to Christianity. His book "Mere Christianity" is very good, though it is not an easy read. As the underlying subject is where you will spend eternity (a VERY long time), I highly recommend you give this matter serious thought and be certain of your conclusions. Once you leave this earth, there will be no opportunity to reconsider.
Nittany| 6.5.09 @ 10:15AM
"There are plenty of Christians who are homosexual. "
The correct formulation of this sentence should be "There are plenty of Christians who are sinners"....non-Christians also. Fortunately, forgiveness is available to all. God bless you, DM.
Son Of Sam| 6.5.09 @ 11:36AM
For anyone who doubts what liberals, progressives and socialists really mean by tolerance, let's consider this quote:
"Our epoch will certainly see the end of the disease of Christianity. It will last another hundred years, two hundred years perhaps. My regret will have been that I couldn’t, like whoever the prophet was, behold the promised land from afar. We are entering into a conception of the world that will be a sunny era, an era of tolerance"
Those words were spoken of course by Adolf Hitler, leader of the National Socialists. The same leader who chose a violently promiscuous homosexual named Ernst Roehm to the head of the stormtroopers. They were both SO extremely "tolerant" of Christianity, weren't they?
"Tolerance" in the mouth of a liberal is nothing more than a code word for "destroy them all"
stand strong until freedom dawns
Son Of Sam
http://www.samadmassos.bravehost.com
Anneke9| 6.5.09 @ 11:42AM
'Liberal United Methodists, most of them from declining churches, realize they will never persuade conservative Africans. So liberal bishops and others have proposed partly separating the U.S. church from the Africans with a new U.S. only "regional conference" to decide U.S. church business without African interference.'
If your brother rebukes you and you don't like what you're hearing, simply shut your ears and ignore the argument. Go your own willful way. Unbelievable.
ccd| 6.5.09 @ 3:24PM
Just schism and get it over with, it's the endless griping that is so undignified.
LarryC| 6.5.09 @ 5:37PM
The Sodomite issue is one reason I left the United Methodist Church after 40 years. I know how corrosive the Leftist Methodists are, and sooner or later the leadership will jam Sodomites down our throats.
Pat| 6.5.09 @ 6:40PM
Like any business, Organized Religion needs customers so the issues, and more importantly, the outcomes described in this article are still in doubt and will remain so while the various denominations test their marketing plans in the real world. It can't be denied that Protestants built our society, they came first in great numbers, they held values, both theological and secular, that made for strong and independent citizens and they produced educated and powerful leaders who provided us with our political stucture, a structure still partially adhered to in this day and age.
Catholics came late but they weren't immune to the rot either. In the early 80's, Catholic archbishops, bishops, monsignors and even the priest who was elected to Congress preached the message of love and liberalism. Ignoring 2,000 years of wisdom, the Catholics talked themselves into the "market basket of social goods" approach to popular religion. You wouldn't know from their current strong stance against abortion, but Catholic leaders accepted abortion as the price that must be paid to obtain all the other "progressive" benefits of modern statism. They felt they had to weigh the evil of abortion against helping the poor and supporting the needy promised by the politicians if only they would fall in line. Folks left the Church in droves, little white envelopes fell less often into the collection plates.
So now there is a retrenchment going on, the religious journals discuss this very topic frequently. There is no imminent danger people will reject their faith, there is a danger that power and followers will shift away permanently from those ancient denominations that built this nation.
jr| 6.5.09 @ 6:43PM
The reason I left organized churches was because I could tell it was turning liberal -- three different protestant denominations. The only apparent good one I've heard about recently is one that will invite participants to bring their guns to church to celebrate Independence Day. What will be our July 4th message from Hussein? More Muslim talk and apologizes?
Big Leo| 6.5.09 @ 10:47PM
The United Methodist Church has a strong conservative caucus called The Good News Movement. While a lot of the liberal congregations within the denomination are declining, many of the conservative congregations are not. We intend to stay within the United Methodist Church to maintain a Scriptural Wesleyan witness, and we will win.
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Jim| 6.6.09 @ 3:47PM
Canada needs a conservative mainline Church, since most have drank the poison liberal koolaid. Once the Anglican Church in North America gets going, it will likely fine a lot of conservative mainliners joining it.
Occam's Razor| 6.7.09 @ 12:38PM
Funny how the mainstream denominations are losing members in the US. In Europe, the churches are empty and the Mosques are full. The maternity wards do not ring with the cry of Native European babies (birth rate for all European countries among natives is well below replacement), but they do with the cry of Dar Es Islam.
Occam's Razor| 6.7.09 @ 12:41PM
One can tell if a denomination is growing or shrinking by its stance on Israel, too. There is no difference in the views of the Presbyterian Church USA and David Duke on Israel.
M. T. Wallitt| 6.7.09 @ 6:25PM
There are several reasons I left the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), after having been a member for a quarter-century and being an elder for some years: the denomination's weakness on same-sex issues, abortion, and salvation (it now says that faith in Jesus is not necessary for salvation). The independent Christian church I now attend does proclaim the need for faith Jesus, runs a crisis-pregnancy center, and welcome sinners of all kinds, as long as they agree to enlist the Holy
Spirit in fighting their sins (including same-sex stuff). But my church also points out that the only sexual relationship God blesses is marriage between a man and a woman (and only when their relationship didn't begin through the destruction of a previous marriage). Our pastor encourages people to marry, not shack up or otherwise hop into the sack, and has even paid the license fee for congregants who were dragging their feet. Same-sex relationships aren't the only ones God forbids -- fornication, including co-habitation, is also bad for us. How many churches/denominations are pointing THAT out these days?
Pingback| 6.8.09 @ 3:58PM
Quo Vadis » Monday: Day off Link Fest links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Alec| 6.8.09 @ 5:38PM
Good grief...North American Methodists are proposing Organizational Segregation from Africans in the event the Africans deny them liberality in terms of sexual orientation? Sakes alive, the progressives are showing their true (lack of) colors. This new rainbow really excludes diversity of skin color. Noah's old rainbow in God's Word is the only true one.
Richard Baker| 6.8.09 @ 8:25PM
This sounds like the statement about a couple being "unequally yoked". God and Satan cannot, eventually, remain together in a Church. This denominational fistfight proves it. The Protestant mainline denominations are being rendered asunder as a result.
Pingback| 6.9.09 @ 9:16AM
Steynian 362 « Free Canuckistan! links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Conservative Mark| 6.25.09 @ 1:29PM
Something you wont read about in the liberal media is the ELCA membership has fallen dramatically the least 5 years over the gay issue. It is a well kept secret but the 4.7 million members of 1986 when the church was formed by merging several previous synods is now believed to be down closer to 3 million. A number of churches are suffering financial difficulties as Bishop Mark Hanson refuses to allow the membership to vote on the gay issue saying it would divide the church... yeah it would, 85 percent against it and 15% for it... just like all previous votes in this country over this matter.
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