"The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) plans to ordain the first openly gay candidate for ordination since the denomination struck down barriers this year to clergy who have same-gender partners.
Scott Anderson will be ordained as a teaching elder on Oct. 8 at the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Madison.
The new policy won approval from a majority of the denomination's 173 presbyteries, or regional church bodies, and took effect on July 10.
The denomination eliminated language in the church constitution requiring that clergy live "in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." The new provision instead requires ministers to "submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life."
Since 2003, Anderson has been the executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches, a public policy organization. He is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary He and his male partner have been together for about two decades.
The 2.1 million-member denomination is based in Louisville, Ky. The much smaller Presbyterian Church in America, a separate denomination, bars ordination for women and openly gay clergy candidates.
No comments:
Post a Comment