July 5, 1996 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. (PC-USA) voted today to restrict ordination, allowing the ordination of homosexuals only if they agree to remain "celibate." The vote was 313-236. The decision must be approved by the denomination's 172 presbyteries before it becomes "church law." The Ordination and Human Sexuality Committee, which had been debating this issue for a number of years, concluded this week that the standards for ordination should be "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between one man and one woman - or chastity in singleness."

We are glad to see this denomination restricting ordination in this fashion, but we cannot fail to note the following sad facts:

(1) The PC-USA's liberalism is evident in that 236 of the delegates voted IN FAVOUR OF homosexual ordination without the restrictions. There should not have been ONE vote in favor of such an unscriptural practice.

(2) The PC-USA's liberalism is evident in the demonstration which followed the vote. "After the ordination vote, hundreds of gay men, lesbians and their supporters marched down the center of the Albuquerque Convention Center floor. Many wept as they sang, over and over, 'We are marching in the light of God'" (Dallas Morning News, July 5, 1996).

(3) The PC-USA promotes the unscriptural philosophy of "unity in diversity." One can remain a member of this denomination and believe or practice almost anything. One can believe the Bible is the perfect, inerrant Word of God; and one can believe the Bible is a myth-filled product of religious evolution. One can believe that Jesus Christ is the Virgin-born Son of God; and one can believe that Jesus Christ was born of natural consequences. One can believe that salvation is personal regeneration through the Blood Atonement of Jesus Christ; and one can believe that salvation is social and environmental regeneration. One can believe that Paul's doctrine of male and female is the inspired Word of God; and one can believe that Paul wrote as a mere man, laden with the prejudices and errors of his day.

"Unity in Diversity" is disobedience to biblical discipline and separation. "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaventh the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. ... Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person" (1 Cor. 5:6,7,13). "As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach NO OTHER DOCTRINE" (1 Tim. 1:3). "A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition REJECT" (Titus 3:10).