FARGO - The Rev. Steve Shive, pastor of First Presbyterian in Fargo, said he doesn't believe the faithful in North Dakota and Minnesota are ready for the votes cast Thursday by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) in favor of removing language prohibiting individuals in same-gender relationships from serving in the clergy.
"I especially don't think the Presbyterian Church in North Dakota is ready for it or western Minnesota," Shive said. "And so it's an issue of pragmatism as much as it is anything for me at this point and time.
"There's already been discussion of the backlash on the assembly floor," Shive said Thursday from the gathering.
The general assembly of the Presbyterian Church cast the votes Thursday at the denomination's general assembly.
The Rev. Matt Stith, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in West Fargo, disagreed with the vote.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I think the current language in our constitution more reflects our scriptural and theological traditions," Stith said. "And so I would prefer that it remain intact."
Stive said the fallout from the votes could be strikingly similar to that of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In August, the ELCA passed a similar measure at their assembly, which also was in Minneapolis. Unlike the ELCA, however, the Presbyterian decision would have to be approved by a majority of the 173 presbyteries to be final.
"It's the same issue at play," Shive said in a phone interview from the assembly. "It's going to be a very difficult year in talking about it."
The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and the Herald are Forum Communications Co. newspapers.
