An Important Message from Your Pastor and Elders

The Presbyterian Church (USA) recently ratified, through the vote of a majority of its presbyteries, an amendment to our constitution that revises its standards with respect to the sexual behavior of those who may be ordained as pastors, elders, or deacons. This change removes the requirement that a church leader must practice either fidelity within a marriage, or chastity in singleness. This change is a challenge to the teaching of scripture, which always expresses God’s intention for sexual expression as being between a man and a woman in marriage, or in the alternative, celibacy in singleness. Our Session (Board of Elders) stands unanimously opposed to this change, and our presbytery voted against its ratification. Nevertheless, after fighting this battle year after year after year, the majority of our presbyteries have now ratified the change.

This change is plainly designed to allow for the ordination of practicing gay and lesbian persons in our denomination, and there is already an effort underway to remove our denomination’s prohibition of wedding ceremonies for gay couples. While these issues are attractive to those who write headlines, a far more important issue looms under the surface. The deeper issue has to do with the authority of scripture and whether the plain teachings of the Bible are relevant in our day and to our culture. There seems to be two general paths that people within the Presbyterian Church (USA) are following. One holds that many scriptural teachings are no longer relevant or must be viewed in light of the advances of the natural and social sciences and current cultural practice. The other upholds the Word of God as the embodiment of eternal truth and calls upon culture to conform to that truth and live in obedience to the teachings of scripture.

Your pastor and your session stand united in our belief in the authority of scripture. We believe that the Bible is our final authority in all matters of faith and practice. It is the story of God’s redemption of humanity from beginning to end, through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. It calls us to live our lives in loving and joyful obedience to God’s teachings. We recognize that we are all sinners, and that the church is a family of sinners. But we will not permit those who actively and unrepentantly defy God’s will, and who often try to justify their behavior as a faithful expression of who God made them to be, to serve as leaders in the church. We believe that “they have exchanged God’s truth for a lie.” (Romans 1:25)

There are some who will criticize those who uphold a biblical standard of morality as “homophobic” or “hateful.” The truth is that nothing is more loving than to call people to align their lives with God’s clear teaching in all areas of life, including the area of sexuality.

This issue has already torn apart what was once a great denomination. We are hopeful that God will save our congregation from any disruption, division, or distraction potentially caused by this issue. Great things are happening at Adventure of Faith! As we continue to faithfully seek God’s will for our future, our hope is that we will stay together and continue to experience God’s blessing upon our church family.

Your pastor and your session are already examining several options for a formal response to the departure of our denomination from historical biblical standards for ordination. We are in conversations over this issue with leaders of other congregations. We are praying for God’s guidance concerning the best way to respond while upholding our commitment to the authority of scripture and standing for the truth as revealed in God’s word. We can assure you that our standards for ordained leadership at Adventure of Faith will not change. We ask that you be patient with us as we carefully look at all our options, and that you pray for us and for God’s continued blessing of our congregation.

We will keep you informed of our progress through e-mail, letters, our website, and congregational meetings when necessary. Please feel free to engage any of us in conversation over this matter. Our commitment is to be totally honest and transparent, and to seek the will of God, wherever that may lead.

Members of Session: Sherm Arnold, Launa Blahm, Bonnie Blankenship, Jacques Dean, Cathy Glinski, Jana Hoggins, Sharon Johnson, Sandy Lewis, Todd Lincoln, Lloyd Pugh, Don Shoop, Michael White, Pastor John Foreman