Journal Article

Making Theology Matter: Power, Polity and the Theological Debate over Homosexual Ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Beuttler, Fred W.

1999

Overview

The conflict over homosexuality is fundamentally over religious authority, whether PC (USA) unity should be based primarily on theology or polity. As these realms function in the Church, they have served as two contrasting strategies of defining and shaping doctrinal debates. Since 1927, the Church has allowed disagreement by not defining doctrine nationally, preferring polity, with local governing bodies deciding essential theological tenets. This functioned adequately in maintaining theological peace until the 1960s, when serious conflict emerged, leading to theological confusion, drift and membership decline. Two developments, the Book of Confessions in 1967 and tighter ordination vows after reunion in 1983, changed the theological context, creating a possible middle way between authoritarianism and anarchic individualism. This made the Confessions a public, consensual and reformable authoritative interpretation of religious truth, allowing for a progressive orthodoxy, although few in the sexuality debate realized this. Amendment B was in part designed to encourage a process of theological unity. The history of theological debate demonstrates that only by making theology primary, by working through the Confessional texts, can the PC (USA) avoid polarization and create a theological center based on civility and conviction.

• Publisher: Religious Research Association
• Subject: Bible / Christianity / Churches / Contemporary period / Debates / General subjects / History and sciences of religions / Homosexuality / Homosexuals / Miscellanea / Ordination / Political aspects / Political debate / Polities / Presbyterian Church / Religious buildings / Religious Organizational Identity and Homosexual Ordination: A Case Study of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A / Sacred texts / Theological aspects / Theology / USA / Vows