Naked fun is forbidden!!!

[Rick336]

So basically the below article means that the gays and lesbians can preach at church but at home they better not get naked and play because if God gets wind of it.....well, I don't need to tell you what can happen. Just remember Katrina.

naked play is forbidden!!

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: February 22, 2009

RALEIGH

Presbyterian church leaders in central North Carolina have approved a measure to let gays and lesbians in partnered relationships be ordained.

The amendment was approved yesterday by a vote of 177 to 139 with 10 abstentions during a meeting in Cary of the New Hope Presbytery church leaders.

"The mood at the presbytery meeting was while we differ on this issue, and are committed as Christians to vote our conscience, we also are committed to finding ways to live together with our differences," said the Rev. Joseph Harvard, the pastor of Durham Presbyterian. "I don't think it's a radical shift in the presbytery."

The measure must be approved by a majority of the nation's 173 presbyteries and conservative congregations including those in Charlotte and Western North Carolina have already approved the amendment.

Gays and lesbians can be ordained within the 2.2-million-member Presbyterian Church (USA), but they must remain chaste as church standards forbid sex outside of traditional marriage between a man and woman.

The standard applies to clergy and lay people in the Presbyterian church who participate as deacons and elders. But even if the standard is struck down, individual churches will not be required to ordain partnered gays and lesbians. It would just give those who want to the freedom to do so.

Still, the issue has divided many churches. At least one church, Raleigh's Hudson Memorial Presbyterian Church, has lost members who formed a new congregation allied with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in protest of the change.

But the Rev. Moffit Churn, an associate pastor at West Raleigh Presbyterian, said that yesterday's meeting was not divisive.

"We all held hands and sang ‘Blessed Be the Tie That Binds' in the Presbyterian way," Churn said. "The voice of the middle ground is being heard, at least in this presbytery. That was my sense."

Votes have to be completed by June, but half the nation's presbyteries will have voted by the end of this month.


Rick

[Eugene]

Yeah, that's pretty stupid. Religious people waste a lot of time on spiritual-sounding foolishness. As this statement illustrates:

"We all held hands and sang ‘Blessed Be the Tie That Binds' in the Presbyterian way," Churn said. "The voice of the middle ground is being heard, at least in this presbytery. That was my sense."

[andrewlittle]

The situation, as it stands now, is what you have in bold print - you can be GLBT as long as you don't do anything with your body parts a married hetero wouldn't do.

The amendment, if passed, will change that to where those churches who want to call openly gay and partnered, or unpartnered, ministers may do so without fear of consure and protracted church disciplinary action.

It may still not be perfect, actually it won't be, but at least it won't be quite as stupid as it is now.

My own presbytery voted by approx 75% to 25% to strike the ridiculous language.

[Alecto]

So, what you're saying is, we have to wear costumes?

[antiochian]

do they plan on enforcing such a stipulation, or more to the point, proving allegations of its violation? Hidden video camaras??

[Rick336]

Yes. We will all have to wear costumes and there will be video cameras watching us. It might seem silly at first but you'll eventually get used to it.

Rick

[andrewlittle]

Originally Posted by antiochian

do they plan on enforcing such a stipulation, or more to the point, proving allegations of its violation? Hidden video camaras??

That stipulation has been in effect since 1997 and they have yet to really concern themselves with small details like proof. Innuendo and gossip is really all you need to deal with.

Now, I'm actually glad no-one thought of the camera - somehow that would've gotten worked in. As it is, you just have church members watching the comings and goings at the parsonage. Hmmm. That choice of language may have been unfortunate.

[Daniel]

And so funny!

[scott snedeker]

Originally Posted by andrewlittle

The situation, as it stands now, is what you have in bold print - you can be GLBT as long as you don't do anything with your body parts a married hetero wouldn't do.

The amendment, if passed, will change that to where those churches who want to call openly gay and partnered, or unpartnered, ministers may do so without fear of consure and protracted church disciplinary action.

It may still not be perfect, actually it won't be, but at least it won't be quite as stupid as it is now.

My own presbytery voted by approx 75% to 25% to strike the ridiculous language.

'Swhy It's great to be a Pagan! We Get Nekked to express spirituality!

[tymejumper]

Originally Posted by Alecto

So, what you're saying is, we have to wear costumes?

Darn, and I just told my wife I would'nt be wearing that French Maid uniform ever again......

[Rick336]

Originally Posted by tymejumper

Darn, and I just told my wife I would'nt be wearing that French Maid uniform ever again......

Rick

[andrewlittle]

Originally Posted by tymejumper

Darn, and I just told my wife I would'nt be wearing that French Maid uniform ever again......

Ummh - can I have it?

[tymejumper]

Originally Posted by andrewlittle

Ummh - can I have it?

Do you want the 4 inch spike heels that go with it? LOL