Recently, the PC(USA), the denomination I am ordained into, voted to alter their ordination standards. This change is a more inclusive shift, allowing all trained and called people, no matter their sexual orientation, to become ministers of the word and sacrament. Previous church constitutional language omitted gays, lesbians and anyone who did not adhere to “chastity in singleness.”
A letter from the elected leaders of the denomination can be found here.
Needless to say, the church blogosphere is quite hard at work commenting on this and a thorough list of church bloggers who have done so can be found here.
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This church news is quite relevant here in New York as recent changes in the state legislature make the possibility of marriage equality very likely, according to this LoHud article.
No matter one's personal feelings about these issues, it certainly appears to be a new day in the church and maybe even our state. I, for one, am rejoicing over this church news. I know many gifted preachers, spiritual teachers and pastoral caregivers whose call to ministry met a difficult roadblock by the prior wording. But I know many are also troubled, perhaps even angry, by this change in church governance. My hope is that we all realize how important it is to band together during these times of transition and that the church can be a model of peace and unity for the state, should the marriage law of New York also be amended.
