This past Sunday, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) put in effect its new ordination policies after 97 out of its 173 presbyteries approved a change to the constitution that potentially allows for gay and lesbian deacons, elders and pastors.

Within its discussion, PCUSA rationalized that “the proposed amendment would maintain high standards for ordination and installation by renewed focus on the questions candidates must answer, but without imposing a single, highly contested interpretation of Scripture on the whole church.”

This means that PCUSA simply removes the requirement of asking candidates their sexual orientation, empowering each individual church to determine their own standards for ordination. While some liberal churches may open up their ordination policies to include gays and lesbians, the majority of churches will most likely continue with their traditional ways.

The OC Register reports that most Korean Presbyterian churches that belong to PCUSA oppose this change. Last year,  SF Weekly reported that “Korean Americans disapprove of same-sex marriage by a margin of 70 to 25 percent,” making Koreans the foremost among Asians to oppose gay marriages (based off of California’s voting patterns regarding 2008’s Proposition 8).

Hanmi Presbytery (one of the 173 Presbyteries in PCUSA), shared their thoughts on the recent uproar within the Korean community:

The Hanmi Presbytery believes that ‘joyfully submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ’ includes ‘living in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman and chastity in singleness.’ The Hanmi Presbytery joyfully supports the scriptures and confessional standards on how to keep ordination abundant in Christ. We assure that Hanmi Presbytery will continue to abide by this understanding, which has been consistently affirmed by Hanmi Presbytery’s ability to retain 100% of its membership. We urge all Korean-American churches in PCUSA to keep both their own presbyteries and denominations in prayer and to practice the virtues of this interpretation in our relationships with one another.

Not all Korean Americans are opposed to this amendment, however. In regards to PCUSA’s amendment, LGBT rights activist Lt. Dan Choi, who was discharged from the Army National Guard because of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” told the OC Register’s Annie Kim that he welcomed the change:

“I think it’s a great decision by the (assembly) and I hope that all other religious denominations will recognize their fellow gay and lesbian congregants. Jesus would have us love all gay people and treat them as equal preachers of God.”

To view/download the full text of the Amendment in question, click here and skip ahead to Section 10-A .

[Photo: PCUSA Website; Lt. Dan Choi's Website]