Why do churches seem to focus so heavily on moral issues?

    If it is true that churches focus disproportionately on moral issues then it should be  a matter of concern because the Church’s primary role is to be an agent in the reconciliation of Humankind with the Creator, God.

This reconciliation was brought about through the death and resurrection of Jesus and  comes as a gift from God. It is the message of salvation which should lie at the heart of everything the Church does. It is the springboard for a life of discipleship.

However humans were created in the image of God to walk with God in companionship. When we perform an act which breaks God’s moral laws we cut ourselves off from Him. It is the duty of the Church to point to God’s moral laws, both to those who serve Him and to the wider community. The moral decay that can result from society’s refusal to accept God’s moral and ethical laws has a destructive effect on everyone.

For the Church to remain silent in these circumstances would be an act of irresponsibility.

Will the Presbyterian Church ever ordain a gay minister?

    Ordination is conducted by presbyteries (or district courts) under the Presbyterian system. These courts are charged, among other things, with examining candidates for ordination to satisfy themselves that these future ministers are people who teach sound doctrine, lead upright lives, walk closely with God in their lives, and have all the knowledge and skills for their profession. Processes of appeal are available to all people who have an interest in these matters. There are even safeguards in place to ensure that the wider church is consulted over the good character of ministerial candidates.
It follows that it would be almost impossible for a presbytery to ordain an openly practising homosexual person to the ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.  Homosexuality is seen as an offence to God and an insult to the goodness of his creation. Similar things, of course,  may be said about such sinful practices as adultery and child sexual abuse. People who are known to engage in them would  never knowingly be ordained by a responsible presbytery.

However the question has to be asked, What is the definition of ‘gay’ or ‘homosexual’? Can a person be ‘gay’ when they are not practising as ‘gays’? There are people who, for various reasons, have acquired supposedly ‘gay’ personality traits or have discovered that they can become sexually attracted to people of their own sex, but who, knowing that the Bible forbids such practices,  have never succumbed.

In cases where there are applicants for ordination who fall into this category, each presbytery must decide on all the evidence available whether the candidate is suitable. There would always be an understanding that homosexuality is a sin and that lapses would be subject to disciplinary action.

Who speaks for the Presbyterian Church on moral and social issues?

    The Presbyterian Church is a federally structured union of state churches, in contrast to other churches that may be hierarchical in their organisation. Its moderators, ministers, assemblies and presbyteries have powers only as defined under the constitutional structures of the church. In general the Church recognizes the rights of free opinion among its members on matters that do not affect the substance of the Christian faith and does not usually claim to speak collectively for Presbyterians.

The General Assembly in each state has the authority to  make firm pronouncements on moral and social concerns but does so very infrequently, and then only about matters on which the scriptures are unambiguous. All decisions are made by the Assembly itself and not by any individual within it. Contrary to some people’s opinion, the Moderator is not the Head of the Church. He is simply its chairman. The Head of the Church can  only be Jesus Christ himself.

The Assembly appoints the Church and Nation Committee to investigate and report on issues and, on occasions, to engage in public debate on its behalf (see Aims and Objectives)

Should churches act as social and political pressure groups?

    Christ died to free humanity from the guilt and penalty of sin and the church has a fundamental commission from Christ himself to proclaim that message. With that freedom there is the call to serve him lovingly in every corner of our lives.

However Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount told us to let our ‘light shine’ for all the world to see. He also said that we were ‘the salt of the earth’, bringing an improved ’flavour’ to a bland or bitter world.. Both roles invite Christian people to enrich the lives of those who share our world with us.

The ideal is for a vast number of individuals to be a moral force for good in society. However the reality is for interest groups in society to organise themselves to strengthen their own positions, not always for the good of society e.g. the porn, tobacco and gambling lobbies. Church members can often belong to organisations seeking to counter these bad influences, often taking on the role of initiators.

Sometimes church communities can be organisations which support those either who are suffering from the ills of the world or who are speaking out seemingly alone against them.

The church may not have been established to be a pressure group but it would be morally delinquent if it failed to declare clearly and publicly what it knows God’s standards to be. This is simply not its main purpose.