Framing the Homosexuality Debate Theologically: Lessons from the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Since 1978, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has relied on legislative procedures to try to resolve the question of the ordination of gay and lesbian persons. In recent years, the legislative debate has become more explicitly theological. Assessment of two major positions in the PC(USA) today, refle...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Springer
1999
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| In: |
Review of religious research
Year: 1999, Volume: 41, Issue: 2, Pages: 262-274 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | Since 1978, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has relied on legislative procedures to try to resolve the question of the ordination of gay and lesbian persons. In recent years, the legislative debate has become more explicitly theological. Assessment of two major positions in the PC(USA) today, reflected in denominational debates over amendments A and B, reveals profoundly different understandings of sin and repentance, the interpretation of Scripture and the church's confessions, and the relationship of law and grace. Perhaps the key theological issue has been the nature of the church and church unity. Supporters of the ordination of gay and lesbian persons have emphasized institutional unity and denominational power; their opponents, ideological unity and local, congregational power. Pastoral-theological issues further complicate the debate, revealing fundamental tensions within the Christian tradition itself (such as, the theological ideal of heterosexual marriage and the pastoral reality of ministering to single, divorced, and homosexual persons)--and therefore the inadequacies of legislative approaches. In the end, the homosexuality debate raises key questions about the nature of denominationalism at the turn of the century. |
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| ISSN: | 2211-4866 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Review of religious research
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.2307/3512110 |