From Ann Rodgers-
Some Presbyterians think I'm a bit bonkers for feeling this way, but I enjoy covering meetings of Pittsburgh Presbytery. Amid all of the reports and budgets is evidence of a community of faith at work in local neighborhoods and around the world. At Thursday's meeting members wrestled with budget woes, but also celebrated a 20-year mission partnership with Presbyterians in Malawi that has resulted in clean water programs and improved medical care in Africa, but also in evangelistic outreach and deeper cultural understanding in Pittsburgh.
But the message most critical to the presbytery's own health came from the Rev. Sheldon Sorge, pastor to the presbytery, to prepare the largely conservative body for possible changes to church law that would allow local option on gay ordination. The presbytery has already lost several congregations that believed the denomination was headed in that direction.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) and its predecessors have fought for 40 years over whether the Bible absolutely forbids all same-sex partnerships. The denomination forbids the ordination of anyone who isn't either faithful in heterosexual marriage or abstinent in singleness. The denomination's general assembly has persistently passed legislation to repeal that standard, but the repeal efforts have never been ratified by the nation's presbyteries. Pittsburgh has consistently voted against ratification – the most recent tally was 163-80. Other presbyteries are still voting.
In a letter to the commissioners at this week's meeting, the Rev. Sorge wrote that the repeal of the so-called "chastity and fidelity" provision appears likely. That would leave decisions over whether or ordain or hire gay clergy in the hands of regional presbyteries and congregations.
More here-
http://blogs.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/news/faithburgh/26608-pittsburgh-presbytery-leader-warns-against-splits-if-national-gay-ordination-policy-changes-says-local-standards-apply
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