PCUSA and Recommendation #5

Yesterday, the PCUSA voted 298-221 (57% to 43%) to approval the PUP (Peace, Unity, and Purity) Report, which includes the controversial "recommendation #5", which basically allows individual governing body (presbyteries) to interpret and determine the ordination standards. For an example, a presbytery can decide that an unrepentant homosexual is "ok" to be a pastor and that this determination doesn't go against the "essential tenets of the Reformed faith", therefore making it more easier* to ordain an unrepentant homosexual person.

Despite voting in the PUP report, the PCUSA also voted that the "fidelity-chastity" ordination requirement be left in the Book of Order, which clearly defines that a ordained person must practice fidelity in marriage (between a man and woman) or "chastity" in being single.

So on the same day, the PCUSA voted in a rule (recommendation #5) that would allow some presbyteries to make it more easier to ordain unrepentant homosexuals, they also reaffirmed a requirement more or less created to prevent unrepentant homosexuals from becoming pastors.

In the end, I am not sure if we have made any progress. I believe until the PCUSA takes a definite stance on the issue of homosexual ordination, we will continue to have these "ordination wars" and we will never truly have "peace", "unity" and "purity".


*According to one blogger ( http://reformed-angler.blogspot.com/2006/06/pup-voting-underway.html), the process and results of the governing body can still be reviewed by a higher authority, therefore at least in theory it doesn't seem like the individual governing body can do whatever they want.

For more information check out:http://www.layman.org/

The Trinity and PCUSA

There's been a lot of buzz about the "receiving" of a report that would propose alternative names for the Trinity such as*:

1. Rainbow, Ark and Dove

2. Speaker, Word and Breath

3. Overflowing Font, Living Water and Flowing River

4. Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-Giving Womb


Without studying the issue or the report, I am inclined to agree with Rev. Lovelady which states in the Layman article " that the Trinity paper "suffers from a confusion about the name of God." He (Lovelady) said there is a difference between a name and a metaphor." It seems to me that God may express his being/character in a metaphor, but may wish to be addressed as something else, in this case I presume it should only be "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit".




* See the article entitled "Trinity paper is 'received' by GA, but not approved" by the Layman: http://www.layman.org/

ME Church

Found this on the 9 Marks webstie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RGHrJMv-1s

1 Timothy 4:3-5: Chen's Wedding Verses

3who (false teachers) forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer-1 Tim. 4:3-5

During our wedding ceremony, Pastor John kinda made fun of me for picking these verses (it seems obscure and not a typical wedding verse), so I wanted to briefly give some reasons why I chose them. These verse teach and remind me that:

1. God is creator of all things good, including marriage.

3who (false teachers) forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good

2. God's good gifts, like marriage, are to received with thanksgiving by Christians

God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

3. God's gifts are good or "made holy" by 2 things: 1) the word of God and 2) prayer

5for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer

- I believe God makes his gifts holy by "the word of God" by him declaring it so, that is, he is the authority and source of what's good or bad. We see this in the creation narrative in Genesis, by which God declares his creation as "good".

- I also believe God's gift are made holy by thankful prayer from Christians (v.3 and 5), that is, the goodness of God's gift must result in praises to the glory of the Creator.

Therefore, I chose these verses because it reminds my wife and I that the goodness of marriage originates from God and is also conditoned if it is received with praises to God by us (and others).