Chimes Online features articles and excerpts from our congregational newletter, The Idlewild Chimes , which is published monthly September through June . On the surface the things of division appear to be about sexuality, particularly homosexuality, and church leadership. But below the surface the division is even deeper than that. We are divided by different understandings of biblical interpretation, and Reformed theology, and how we understand sin and God's grace. With the defeat of Amendment O recently, there has been much misunderstanding about the implications of that defeat.
Marriage is a civil contract between a man and a woman.
For Christian marriage is a covenant through which a man and a women are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. In a service of Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith. We may not utilize liturgies for Christian marriage or the recognition of civil marriage in ceremonies for same sex couples. All of us need to approach these issues with humility. We can, and must, live with our convictions, but also live within the reality of divine forgiveness and with respect for the conviction of those who differ from us.