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America's First Openly-Gay Presbyterian Minister Speaks Out

America's First Openly-Gay Presbyterian Minister Speaks Out

"There's no longer a right viewpoint and a wrong viewpoint but several faithful viewpoints..."

Over the weekend, the Blaze reported on the ordination of of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s first openly-gay minister. It's been more than two-decades since Scott Anderson left his church after telling his California congregation that he was gay.

After years away from the pulpit, he became the first homosexual in America to be ordained by the Church.

In an interview with CNN, Anderson described the emotions he has regarding his official return to ministry:

"It's an exciting time for me personally to be the first openly gay person ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and it's a big moment for our church that has has excluded gays and lesbians for so many decades, so it's a new day for us."

"I had been a Presbyterian pastor for eight years, and when I left, I never thought this day would come in my lifetime," he continued. "God has brought a variety of surprises to my life, and this certainly is the biggest one."

Anderson also believes that his ordination may be an example of the Christian church, regardless of denomination, recognizing that divergent views on scripture exist. He explains:

"Our church is recognizing there are a variety of viewpoints on scripture. There's no longer a right viewpoint and a wrong viewpoint but several faithful viewpoints, one of which includes me in terms of being a minister in the Presbyterian church. So we're honoring a diversity of viewpoints in our church."

Watch Anderson discuss his ordination on CNN:

Back in 1990, Anderson was outed by congregants, as he was secretly in a relationship with another man at the time. Such a prospect violated the church's pastoral code, which said that one must either be single or be living in marriage as a man and wife. As we reported over the weekend, via the Associated Press:

Saturday’s ordination at Covenant Presbyterian Church was made possible by decades of debate over whether openly gay people should be allowed to serve in the church. The church constitution used to include language requiring that clergy live “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”

The Presbyterian national assembly last year endorsed removing that rule. The change was approved in May by a majority of the denomination’s 173 regional church bodies.

Below, watch PCUSA's Office of Theology and Worship Charles A. Wiley, III, address a group of Presbyterian students and faculty about the new amendment allowing gay and lesbian Christians to be ordained:

While Anderson's ordination is certainly a milestone for gays and lesbians hoping to serve as clergy, it is also going to be a source of division and drama among believers. One wonders if the change will produce a Presbyterian split or if the whole of the Church will accept the change, regardless of personal perspective on the matter.

(H/T: CNN)

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