Passing the buck, ducking the question, avoiding conflict?
I am not sure what fits best here. The highest court of the Presbyterian Church USA has refused to overturn a lower court's inexplicable ruling that Stephen van Kuiken was not in violation of church law when he married homosexuals, which is expressly forbidden by said churches bylaws. They clearly want to avoid any sort of stance on this issue, so they tried to weasel out of it by claiming that since he is no longer a Presbyterian, they have no authority in this case…
>>>The highest court ruled Tuesday that the Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken's resignation as a minister and church member put him outside church jurisdiction.
"There is no way that the court could hear a case involving someone who is no longer a Presbyterian," said Laurie Griffith, judicial process manager at Presbyterian headquarters in Louisville. <<<
Silly me, but the case in question has huge ramifications for the PCUSA. Van Kuiken WAS a Presbyterian minister when he violated church law and the lower court ruling was from a regional PCUSA church court. How is this possibly anything other than abdicating responsibility. Needless to say, van Kuiken sees this as a victory…
>>>Griffith said the dismissal leaves the Maumee ruling with no effect beyond the parties involved in the Van Kuiken case.
Van Kuiken disagreed and believes the ruling sets a precedent.
"It's like any other appeals court decision, in that it stands unless it's overruled by a higher court," he said.<<<
I have to agree with van Kuiken here, this DOES set a precedent and a dangerous one.
By their silence and refusal to act, the PCUSA has given tacit approval to it's ministers to flaunt their breaking of church law, as clearly the hierarchy has no backbone and lacks teeth. The phrase "paper tiger" comes to mind. How long can it be before the PCUSA slips away into shame and obscurity like the Episcopal church? Bible believing Presbyterians in the PCUSA need to find a new church home or make some changes fast.
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