THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090024
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 25 lines
On July 6, you published an Associated Press report under the headline ``Presbyterians allow ordination of gays.'' This headline is as blatant a lie as any I have ever seen in a publication printed for the readership of the general public. In addition to the blatant lie, you left out two additional key pieces of information in order to further enhance your falsehood.
Please let me quote the exact amendment that will go to the Presbyteries for consideration and vote over the upcoming year:
``Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life of obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage of a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.''
One of the key pieces of information you left out was repentance and the other key piece of information was sin.
DOUG STEWART
Virginia Beach, July 19, 1996 by CNB