Church in Korea labels Amendment A ‘an insult to the Church’
The Layman Online, October 4, 2001
The Presbyterian Church in Korea has issued a statement criticizing Amendment A in the Presbyterian Church (USA) as “not acceptable,” and has urged the presbyteries in the United States to “reject and correct this theology.”
In what it called a “declaration” to all Presbyterians in the PC(USA) about the proposed constitutional change that would allow the ordination of self-affirming, practicing adulterers and homosexuals, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea wrote:
“We would like to express our deep concern and regret in the following ways:
1) About a century ago, the American church brought the gospel to our church. Now, they are trying to ordain homosexuals who the Bible indicates are cursed. This concept is difficult to understand; it is not acceptable. It is a challenge to the principal of creation and an insult to God’s Church. It is embarrassing to ourselves. Up until now, your theology has been reliable. For these reasons, we strongly request that the American presbyteries reject and correct this theology and way of life. We assume the decision was not made without considerable prayers and theological bases and that the reasoning behind your action is due to an effort to not reject any certain class or to keep any from the gospel. Perhaps due to your open-mindedness, you felt you didn’t have any other choice but to include them.
2) Since we were established under the PC(USA), we are stunned (nervous, confused, upset). This is not a simple culture shock, but it collides with important matters of faith and the theology of most Korean Christians. But since the PC(USA) has a long traditional faith, we can only hope there will be a good result. We trust and fervently pray there will be an outcome that leads to much fruit.
3) Even in the non-Christian society, there is a lack of acceptance or blame regarding homosexuals. We who are brothers to the PC(USA) see a lot of obstacles in preaching the gospel. If the PC(USA) accepts this issue, we will feel very inconvenienced. Therefore, we would like the PC(USA) to make a very faith-filled decision regarding the matter. We are praying no such fraudulent, false or bad customs will cause problems and disturb and disrupt God’s Church.
4) The Korean General Assembly has been growing and developing in faith unlike any other mission in history in the context of the Old and New Testaments. We consider the Bible our standard and we want to be brothers with other churches that have the same values. We are trying to be salt and light in the world.
“We are praying this issue will not cause any split or other harm. This declaration is not a demand, but a prayer for our sister church. We hope for a positive outcome that verifies we are not two, but one, in Jesus Christ.
“The grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be on the PC(USA) and the Korean General Assembly forever.”