Views
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Note from the Plumb Line Editors
There is breaking news to report. In the EPC’s January and February presbytery meetings, four presbyteries have passed an overture that would resolve the current crisis in the EPC over same sex attraction (SSA) and ordination. Commissioners to the 2026 General Assembly will now have the opportunity to vote in favor of a proposed Book…
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Yes, It’s Sodomy
Sodomy. Okay, I said it. I’m sorry if I offended you. But wait. I’m not sorry. Sodomy is the Bible’s language when it comes to homosexuality. The AIC report may call it same sex attraction (SSA), but the Bible calls the act behind that attraction sodomy (Genesis 19:1-8; 1 Timothy 1:8-10; 2 Peter 2:6).
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Ad Interim Committee
Denies Homosexuality
is Unique ‘Unnatural’ Sin
Contrary to Scripture and
Historic Orthodox ChristianityAt a meeting of Presbytery of the West, a member of the Ad Interim Committee (AIC) on same sex attraction and ordination offered a critique of the Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest (PNW) overture. Some refer to this overture as the “Red Line Overture” referencing the Red Line Statement signed by over three hundred REs…
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A Reassessment
of Same-Sex Attraction
in Light of James, Hebrews,
and the Natural-Unnatural DistinctionPerhaps you’ll receive this paper in an email from a pastor or fellow elder. Perhaps you’ll come across it via a blog, website, or social media post. You might receive it angrily or with a sense of happy relief. However this paper gets to you, you’ll inevitably ask the same question the authors did: Why?…
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Weaponizing the Ethos
For 46 years the EPC has been guided by its motto: In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity. In times of conflict and disagreement, our ethos has served us well. But what happens when the ethos becomes a weapon? What happens when it is used to silence disagreement and dissent? What happens when…
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Yes, God is ‘Anti-Gay’
Is God anti-gay? Yes, God is anti-gay. The God of the Bible is anti-gay, and the gods of this world are pro-gay. We have walked the long road with prodigals and their parents. Some have been led by the nose by the false idea that homosexuality is a permanent feature of some people’s humanity and…
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New Ad Interim Committee
BoG Amendment InsufficientThere is much to commend in the new Book of Government (BoG) amendment (12-17-25 Draft) offered by the Ad Interim Committee (AIC). It reflects many Biblical principles that would be imperative for church officers. Ultimately, it’s not what the amendment says that is problematic, but what it does not say.
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My Personal Experience
with SSA PastorsFor most of us, the question of ordaining a “same sex attracted but celibate” pastor is a theoretical conversation. Not for me. In my 43 years of ministry, three of the four churches I have served have had an SSA pastor. In each instance, though the circumstances vary, each of these pastors would have been…
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The Goldilocks Dilemma:
Why the EPC’s Middle Way
Cannot HoldIn the beloved fairy tale “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Goldilocks rejects the bowls of porridge that are too hot and too cold, choosing instead the porridge that is “just right.” It is a charming children’s story. But when applied to denominational identity, the search for “just right” and a middle way can lead to…
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The Cult of Self-Care
Perhaps never in church history has there been a time when so many pastors have experienced burnout. A recent survey by Barna Research revealed an alarming statistic: 42 percent of pastors have considered quitting the ministry. According to Barna, the leading cause of burnout was stress, followed by loneliness and political division.
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A Moderator’s Meanderings
“Meanderings” definition: Rambling or passing from one topic to another. I hope you find the following collection of articles, quotes, quips, and Scripture to be informative, edifying, and thought-provoking. This information is not as thorough or detailed as the other articles in the Plumb Line. But I hope to stimulate honest and open debate on…
News
- Chair of Ministerial Committee Resigns Over Homosexuality Report
In March, TE Bill Reisenweaver resigned as chairman of the Ministerial Committee of the Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean as an act of conscience in response to the Ad Interim Committee on Same-Sex Attraction. Previously, Bill served as Moderator and Chair of the Leadership Team for the presbytery. He chaired the Ministerial Committee for almost five years prior to his resignation. In the following interview with the Plumb Line, Reisenweaver explains why he could no longer serve in leadership in the EPC. - PJC Sustains Complaint Against Presbytery of the AllegheniesThe Presbytery of the Alleghenies acted improperly by not allowing an overture addressing same sex attraction to be considered for a vote, according to a ruling by the Permanent Judicial Commission. In the January 15 ruling, the PJC sustained in part a complaint brought by New Albany Presbyterian Church (NAPC) in Columbus, Ohio. NAPC elders claimed that their overture was handled “wrongly and improperly” by the Presbytery of the Alleghenies, even though the overture had been ruled in order by the Chief Parliamentarian of the EPC.
- Presbyteries Consider Overture
on Same Sex AttractionAn overture that seeks to prohibit the ordination of elders who experience ongoing same sex attraction (SSA) has met with mixed results in meetings of EPC presbyteries. As of February 24, four presbyteries had voted to approve the overture creating a constitutional amendment and three presbyteries voted to not approve the overture for 46th General Assembly consideration in June. One presbytery has yet to vote on the overture. - Michigan Church Transfers to PCAAlarmed by the issue of same-sex attraction, an independent Michigan church has voted to transfer to the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). By an overwhelming majority, Christ Presbyterian Church in Novi, Mich., voted in December to join the PCA. Although it is an independent church, the Novi congregation had been in relationship with the EPC since it was chartered in 2006 and had adopted the Westminster Confession, Shorter Catechism, and EPC Book of Order.
- “What’s at Stake in the EPC?”
#3 Coming March 3On Tuesday, March 3rd, the Editorial Board of The Presbyterian Plumb Line will host the third installment of its Zoom meeting series “What’s at Stake in the EPC?” from 7:00-8:30 p.m. EST.