Presbyterian Women from Va. church protest Women of Faith Awards
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, July 30, 1999
In response to two of the Women of Faith Awards going to self-professed lesbians Jane Spahr and Letty Russell, the Presbyterian Women of Northminster Presbyterian Church, Madison Heights, Va., has written a letter to the National Ministries Division, Women’s Program Area requesting a “menu” in order to “send our financial support to the PWUSA for specific causes or funds. We do not want our offerings spent on awarding those whose ideas and practices contradict what we read in God’s word.
“We would like to have a ‘menu’ provided to us so that we can select those particular causes we, here at Northminster, believe honor God and remain true to His standards and expectations stated in His Word.”
The letter began, “Whereas we believe salvation is free and available to all through God’s grace, we also believe that God has expectations for our behavior and our attitudes. These expectations are clearly stated for us in His Word in both the Old and New Testaments.”
Citing articles in The Presbyterian Layman on the Women of Faith Awards, the letter continued, “This greatly concerns us here at Northminster Presbyterian Church. There are numerous warning against sexual immorality throughout the Bible. Leviticus 18:22 tells us plainly that homosexual behavior is detestable to God. How then can a lesbian be honored by the church?
“We believe that homosexuals can repent, reform, and accept Christ’s salvation; but they must turn away from their homosexual lifestyle – not try to merge homosexuality with Christianity. As we study our Bibles, we find God’s will clearly defined on this issue. We cannot, in good faith, continue to support an organization that honors behavior detestable to God.”
The letter ends by stating, “We are deeply concerned by the choices some leaders in the GAC have made and feel it our duty to make our concerns known. We pray fervently that God’s Holy Spirit will guide and direct those in positions of power and authority within the Presbyterian Church. We look forward to your reply.”
The letter was addressed to the National Ministries Division, Women’s Ministries. Copies were sent to Curtis A. Kearns Jr., director of the National Ministries Division; the executive committee of the General Assembly Council, the Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns, Presbyterian Women, Women’s Ministries and the National Network of Presbyterian College Women.