Tim,
I'm not the one to speak on this issue since I left my own mainline denom for the exact same reasons. For me, like Benjamin, there were other things about any mainline group that struck at the heart of the Gospel before the homosexual issue. However, it was a "straw that broke the camel's back" situation for us.
Mohler's comments are spot on:
Quote:
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Meeting in San Jose, California, the Presbyterian Church USA, the liberal branch of American Presbyterianism, moved to approve homosexual clergy on June 27, 2008 -- a date that may well mark a final blow against biblical orthodoxy in that denomination.
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Tim, I grew up in the ABC and the last two years after leaving have been exceedingly painful for me and for many of my other "lifer" colleagues. Still, we left as a judicatory (So. Cal./Az/Hawaii - 270 congregations) rather than as individual churches. But, the direction was clearly set and we were unwilling to live with it any longer.
And, yes, as Benjamin indicated, this is not the first time that the PCUSA ordained active homosexuals, merely the codifying of it. Most mainline groups have been doing it and looking the other way for some time.
In the ABC, our ruling board of 120 (or so) had at least two openly homosexual clergy on it, one who was on the executive committee, nominating committee, biennial program planning committee (2003 and 2005), and the search committee to select the General Secretary (top paid employee of the denom)! And, like the Corinthians, they were so proud of their tolerance and open mindedness.
So, for what it's worth, this date will probably go down as the day (if the 1967 confession didn't convince you already and the changes to the HC at this GA) when the PCUSA officially closed the door on pretending to be a biblical denomination. I would not stay.