Lewes Presbyterian Church opposes gay ordination

Lewes Presbyterian Church will continue its policy of prohibiting ordination of practicing homosexuals, disregarding a policy adopted by the national church body.

The national organization of the Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church USA, adopted a policy that allows ordination of gays and lesbians. In May, a majority of presbyteries ratified the policy, and it went into effect in July.

The Rev. Harry “Buz” Hughes, Lewes Presbyterian Church pastor, states the local church’s position in a newsletter and in a paper he wrote, "In Opposition to the Ordination of Self-avowed, Practicing Homosexuals."

In the newsletter, Hughes wrote: “Now that our denomination has voted to change the Book of Order to allow for the ordination of persons who do not maintain fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness, thus contravening the standards clearly expressed in the scriptures and our confessions, the PCUSA is experiencing an existential crisis.”

The Book of Order is the Presbyterian Church’s constitution. The church ratified changes in the constitution regarding what it calls “gifts and requirements” of those it ordains as clergy and in lay positions of elder and deacon.

In the newsletter, Hughes describes the national body of the church as deathly ill, because of a steady stream of membership losses averaging 60,000 people per year.

“That rate of loss now threatens to increase to become a flood, and our relationship with the global church, remaining faithful to scriptural standards, has been put at risk,” he wrote.  Through his secretary, Hughes declined an interview and said he had no additional comment.

Since 1997, the church constitution has required those seeking ordination to be living “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”

This year, after PCUSA’s constitutional change, church officials are instructed to “examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation and suitability for the responsibilities of office.”

Advocates of the change say it is likely conservative presbyteries would continue to deny ordination of gays and lesbians.

The constitution states that among those who are ordained, the “manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel in the church and in the world. They must have the approval of God’s people and the concurring judgment of a council of the church.”

Churches are free to choose

Fred Beaufait, a Lewes Presbyterian Church elder, said the Lewes church has never voted on whether gays and lesbians should be ordained, but session, the local church’s governing body, has.

He said the earlier constitutional wording addressed adultery, chastity and whether a person is heterosexual or single.

Beaufait said for the past several years, there has been a movement among progressive presbyteries to eliminate the ordination standard.

“Our church has constantly supported the ordination standard. Lewes Presbyterian Church believes that the scriptures are the word of God, and that they give us direction as to how we should live our lives,” he said.

Beaufait said scripture states homosexuality is a sin, pointing to Leviticus 18:22 – "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." – as one of several Biblical citations.

“Based upon that statement, we believe that gays or lesbians or transvestites should not be ordained to be ministers of the word because they have not sought forgiveness of their sins,” he said.

He said if those individuals repented and disengaged from sinful behavior, they could become candidates for ordination.

“It’s not a question of what their preference is; it’s a question of their behavior,” Beaufait said.

He said PCUSA’s elimination of the ordination standard doesn’t mean gays and lesbians can now be automatically ordained.

“They still have to come before the presbyteries, and the presbyteries can decide,” he said. But, he added, that doesn’t mean gays and lesbians are not welcome to join the church and hold membership.

“We make no distinction, because the church is open,” he said.

He said many presbyteries disagree with changes taking place at the church’s national level. Beaufait said today, political correctness and liberal thinking are “taking hold, and that bothers some of us who are more conservative in our approach.”

He said at some point, the church would also have to determine its position on same-sex marriage.

Although members of the congregation have not been individually polled about their thoughts on gay and lesbian ordination, Beaufait said it remains a possibility. But he said until session reaches a decision, it’s not an issue that needs to be raised.

“We’re all struggling with how to respond to these things,” he said.