open letter to my fellow conservatives

Dear fellow conservatives in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.);

I’m writing to those who, with me, affirm Scripture’s teaching that marriage is between a man and a woman, who affirm the historic teachings of our Book of Confessions that marriage is between a man and a woman, who affirm the historic principle of church order that “truth is in order of goodness” and “who are persuaded that there is an inseparable connection between faith and practice, truth and duty” (F-3.0104), and who are deeply troubled by Thursday’s actions of the 221^st General Assembly.

While I wholly support those commissioners who are filing protests against the Assembly’s actions regarding the Authoritative Interpretation and the proposed amendment to our Book of Order, I will not be filing. I will not be protesting.

We have a decisive, and perhaps brief, window of opportunity to choose how we will be in this new denominational landscape – a landscape where we clearly find ourselves in the minority.  What will we stand for? How will we use our voice? What will our voice sound like when we use it? What will our opponents see when they look at us?

Yesterday’s vote was offensive. It felt like a slap in the face. But the same Jesus who clearly defines marriage in Matthew 19 also tells me in Matthew 5 to turn the other cheek. He tells me to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. He warns me about the poison of retaliation and the rottenness of contempt. He calls me to a new kind of righteousness that is beyond the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. What will our righteousness look like in this new denominational landscape? Let us consider this carefully.

Yours brother in Christ,

Steve Oglesbee