논의되고 있는 교단 내 동성애에 관련하여 아래 편지를 총회 교리위원회와 정의 실천위원회에 보내려고 합니다.
Vaughan Community Church studied the Body,
Mind and Soul study guide over a period of six weeks and considered the subject
of full inclusion of gay and lesbian members in the Presbyterian Church in
Canada. The church prayerfully considered what was put forth in the study
guide, and those included in the discussion included:
· * Ninety-six small groups (over 500
individuals), Wednesday evening mid-week services, two Sunday worships;
· * the English-speaking congregation
sharing over a 5-week sermon series on Sundays, open discussion with leadership
and in small groups;
· * the youth during Sunday worship
and within their small groups;
· * the pastoral staff and the
Session.
We, the members of Vaughan Community
Church, have come to the following resolution:
1. We recognize how difficult the task was to
put the study guide together and we appreciate the hard work of the committee.
We do find, however, that the study guide is biased, leaning heavily towards the
justification of full inclusion for gay and lesbian members.
2. Labeling the two sides by calling it
traditionalist and revisionist is biased. It suggests that the view of
traditionalists is stubborn and antiquated and that the “revisionists” and
“progressives” perspective is further developed towards the correct supposition.
3. The study guide lacks in sound and widely
accepted biblical scholarship. The hermeneutics used to support the
“progressive” understanding is thin and intentionally leads towards a conclusion
favourable of a revisionist interpretation. The traditional perspective was not
treated fairly, with little elaboration and written with a rigid undertone. In
our congregation, there was a growing sense of “So, now what?” The open-ended nature of the discussion in the section
on Scripture raised a sense of frustration among the participants, as they felt
unable to find a way forward.
4. We believe that Scripture is consistent
throughout that heterosexual relationship is God’s intention and design from
the beginning of creation. Therefore, we have come to the conclusion that
homosexual practice cannot be an optional lifestyle for Christians.
5. The church, through its prophetic function, needs
to proclaim that homosexual behaviour is a sin so as to give people the opportunity
to repent and receive God’s grace.
6. The 1994 Human
Sexuality Report needs to be further developed to address how individuals and
congregations can authentically live out the current position of the Presbyterian
Church in Canada.
2016년 3월 13일
한석현 목사 드림