A presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has ruled that a church’s session cannot adopt a policy requiring all weddings performed on church property be only between one man and one woman. In the case of Thomas E. Morgan, complainant vs. Session, First Presbyterian Church, Asheboro, N.C., respondent, the PJC of Salem Presbytery ruled that “A categorical…
A commentary on the ruling that a session policy governing marriage is discriminatory. I can almost predict the headlines in the secular media: “Court rules Presbyterian church policy against same-sex weddings inherently discriminatory.” They won’t take the time to parse the difference between a presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission and civil court and they won’t care…
Now that Joe Rightmyer has made public his intent not to appeal the ruling of Grace Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Commission which stripped him of his ordination, efforts are underway to make sure what happened to Rightmyer does not happen to others. The cry is rising from all quarters and people are asking: What can we do…
Presbyterianism has historically been described as a system of faith and practice that stands on a “three-legged stool” of theology, worship and polity. To lose one of the legs means all will ultimately fall. We have watched with grief as the theological and worship practices of the Presbyterian Church (USA) have been undermined and degraded…