A few weeks ago, Barbara Wheeler and John Wilkinson wrote a very well-reasoned appeal to conservatives to stay in the PC(USA) if the vote to repeal the fidelity-chastity standard should pass. They argued that we need each other, and that we have much to teach each other about sin and about grace.
I appreciated the comments they quoted from Richard Mouw, who said that gays “aren’t all that gay,” and straight people “aren’t all that straight.” Both are most definitely true! The only distinction to be made, with which Mouw would likely concur, is that same-sex desire is not a good gift from God to be celebrated and defended as an issue of justice, and that even heterosexual desire for someone other than a lifelong marital partner is a tragic twisting of a good gift from God.
The difference is far more critical than the questions of conscience of which Paul speaks, where we are all free to agree to disagree. Jesus says it is better to hang a millstone around your neck and sink yourself in the Mariana Trench than to lead his little ones into sin. That is what is at issue here.
Barbara and John wrote that our ongoing debates are “a prime opportunity for examination of conscience, confession, and repentance.” I wish it were so. I certainly haven’t seen it in the last three rounds of debate that I’ve witnessed. Barbara and John indicate that they have been influenced in these debates by people from the conservative side. I wish I could see exactly how. Personally, I don’t see it.
It would be great if the whole “More Light” movement were like Barbara and John. Not so. It appears to me that the repeal of the fidelity-chastity standard will provide guns to replace the baseball bats in the hands of left-wing bigots who define all opposition to homosexual practice as hate speech. Where’s the “live-and-let-live” in such a scenario?
Barbara and John can make all the promises they want, but they are powerless to deliver on those promises by restraining the pitbulls among their allies.
Many of those who changed their votes this year were evidently persuaded by promises that this was the way forward to end this debate (true – now that this has passed, you can bet this debate will be permanently shut down), and that no one will be forced to ordain or install anyone against their will. We all know better than that.
Barbara and John’s side sees this as an issue of justice. Justice cannot tolerate injustice. Therefore, the move to Kenyonize dissent will be fast-tracked. In other words, freedom to ordain will quickly become mandatory gay ordination, much quicker than the freedom to ordain women became mandatory in the Wynn Kenyon case.
We warned you. Some folks didn’t hear the warning, or dismissed it as a scare tactic. I dare you to prove me wrong.
We need a safe place where people like myself can go and live our vision of the church. Many of us would have left the PC(USA) long ago, if we were convinced that life is any better elsewhere.
The test of whether Barbara and John and their allies really mean what they say is if you will expedite the creation of new presbyteries within the PC(USA) as safe spaces where people like myself will be free to continue to practice the standards held by the church for the past 1980 years. There will be opposition to this, so it will take pressure from you to translate your promises into action. Personally, I would like to see approximately 30 such presbyteries formed (we have room for two here in Illinois). In some more conservative presbyteries that may choose to abide by the previous higher standard (we are told that a presbytery will not be allowed to do this, but negotiation is possible), progressives may be the ones who should be allowed to form a presbytery that follows the new standard.
I know, you would prefer that we stay closer together. Try seeing this as a trial separation, a separation that may not lead necessarily to divorce, a separation that gives time and space to see whether reconciliation is possible. New Light and Old Light needed time and space to resolve their differences back in the 1800’s; perhaps we can provide that time and space without the bitterness of that division. We will see whether the progressive church will treat us more kindly than it treated Machen, who did not leave voluntarily, but was forcibly kicked out for creating a parallel structure. (It is interesting that no one has tried to “out” Machen, a lifelong bachelor, in this debate.)
TOM HOBSON of Belleville, Ill., a PC(USA) pastor for 28 years, is currently serving at First Church in Herrin, Ill, and as adjunct professor, Morthland College, West Frankfort, Ill.
