Last year in Dallas, amidst an ongoing controversy surrounding Side-B “Gay Christianity” and the Revoice conference, the Presbyterian Church in America’s (PCA) General Assembly voted to commend CBMW’s Nashville Statement as a “biblically faithful declaration.” The General Assembly also voted to form a study committee that would “study the topic of human sexuality with particular attention to the issues of homosexuality, same-sex attraction, and transgenderism and prepare a report.”
While the PCA was not able to assemble this year due to COVID-19, today the study committee released their report on human sexuality for denominational consideration. This PCA report represents a significant development in the ongoing debate about Side-B “Gay Christianity.” You can expect the report to be debated both within and without the PCA over the next year ahead of the 2021 General Assembly.
Having read the report, I want to commend it to you as a biblically faithful declaration. What I find most striking about the report is its substantial agreement with CBMW’s Nashville Statement and significant disagreement with the many problematic positions taken by Side-B “Gay Christianity,” especially on gay identity, the morality of same-sex attraction, celibate partnerships, concupiscence, and temptation.
The PCA report on human sexuality includes Twelve Statements that comprise the heart of the committee’s consensus, which can be read starting on page six in this document. Below I highlight the most significant points of agreement with CBMW’s position in the Nashville Statement, which I believe to be the biblical position; these points also signal a noteworthy disagreement with much of the Side-B position.
The PCA report on human sexuality:
Those who have been paying close attention to this conversation over the years will recognize in these statements a rejection of much of the Spiritual Friendships paradigm and several points embraced by those involved with Revoice, which I believe vindicates CBMW’s years-long disagreement with both organiztions.
I am thankful for the considerable labors of these brothers in the PCA, and I am praying this report will be part of what God uses to continue to lead evangelical Christians into all faithfulness on human sexuality.
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