The More Light Presbyterians met on Tuesday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a document titled “Keeping Body and Soul Together: Sexuality, Spirituality, and Social Justice,” a document that was rejected by a margin of 534-37 at the 1991 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In his opening remarks, Alex McNeill, executive director of…
Presbyterian pastors across the country are taking to the pulpit and using the power of the pen to share the lament of their hearts at the action of their denomination’s General Assembly. Jason Whitener (41), whose grandfather was a Presbyterian minister, preached with clarity, conviction and compassion and then determined that in good conscience he can…
When I was a pastor my “walk off” prior to the benediction often included a challenge to the congregation to “expect always the unexpected and anticipate miracles, knowing that with God all things are possible.” Earlier this year I had one of those unexpected but certainly divine appointments. One of the other people who stood…
In a recent conversation about same-sex marriage with a pro-LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) advocate who is an ordained teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA) she disclosed that she persisted in performing gay marriage ceremonies even though she understands the denomination’s clear prohibition of the act. It is legal in the state…