While the Episcopal and United Methodist churches have struggled over homosexuality, another mainline Protestant denomination -- the Presbyterian Church (USA) -- has been relatively quiet. But that is changing.
Since 2001, Presbyterians have been awaiting recommendations from a ''Peace, Unity, and Purity" task force, charged with seeking a way to overcome severe disagreements on gay relationships and other issues.The task force is close to completing its work, with the group preparing its final report at meetings in Dallas next month and Chicago in August.
Some are not even waiting to read the fine print: 85 conservative congregations sent delegates to a convocation in Edina, Minn., that concluded last weekend.There, representatives endorsed platforms that laid out essential doctrines and ''ethical imperatives," including the Bible as infallible, salvation through Jesus Christ alone, the necessity of world evangelism, and rejection of gay sex and abortion.
The group -- which calls itself the New Wineskins Initiative -- also proposed a radically reorganized, mission-minded denomination to halt decades of decline in the Presbyterian church, which currently has 2.4 million members.
New Wineskins wants its conservative beliefs and restructuring plan to be adopted by next year's national assembly. The assembly will also debate the task force report and the latest liberal attempt to abolish the church's policy against actively gay clergy and lay officers.
For years, liberals have been frustrated by the denomination's repeated refusal to abolish its sexual conduct rules, while conservatives have been equally frustrated by liberals' ongoing agitation and disregard for church law. Some are saying a breakup is ''inevitable".
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For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
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