Views

VIEWS — Volume 2, Issue 4

Note from the Plumb Line Editors

There are only a few weeks left before the General Assembly meeting in Denver. A record number of commissioners have already registered for this historic gathering which has the potential to be a major turning point in the EPC.
Five Overtures Ruled Unconstitutional

In a deeply divided decision, the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) ruled that five proposed overtures that would forbid the ordination of homosexuals were unconstitutional. (PJC Report Regarding PNW Overture) In addition the rulings produced a minority report signed by three members of the PJC (See pp. 10-14 of the above PJC Report). In this article,…
AIC Answers to
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Imprecise and Incomplete

The following is a response of the Presbyterian Plumb Line Editors (PPL) to amend or supplement answers provided by the Ad Interim Committee on Same Sex Attraction and Ordination Standards (AIC) in a May 26, 2026, email from the Office of the General Assembly with the subject “AIC on SSA and Ordination Standards FAQ.”
Why Homosexual Desire Is Evil

Before I became a Christian I worked for many years as a psychotherapist. It was the late 1970s and half of my psychotherapy practice consisted of gay and lesbian judges, doctors, lawyers, and musicians. Some realized they were same sex attracted (SSA) in their early to late teens, others later in life. Some were bisexual,…
Calibrating a Dial
or Rendering a Verdict?

The current discussion surrounding ordination and same-sex attraction has largely been framed in terms of degree. How much homosexual desire is too much? At what point does temptation become disqualifying? Is there a tolerable level of struggle that may be present in a candidate for office? And how might we discern that level?
Giving Up on the Gospel

During a recent meeting of Midwest Presbytery, a teaching elder stood up to speak against a proposed overture that would forbid the ordination of homosexuals who claim to be celibate. He argued that since many of us in the EPC are addicted to pornography, it would be wrong and hypocritical to deny ordination to those…
A Moderator’s Meanderings

“Meanderings” definition: Rambling or passing from one topic to another. I hope you find the following collection of articles, quotes, quips, and Scripture to be informative, edifying, and thought-provoking. This information is not as thorough or detailed as the other articles in the Plumb Line. But I hope to stimulate honest and open debate on…
Searching for Unicorns

In ancient times people searched for the unicorn, a mythical creature with the body of a horse and a spiraling horn on its forehead. Of course, no unicorn was ever found because unicorns don’t exist in real life. In recent years, evangelicals have searched for a different kind of unicorn. With great zeal and determination,…
AIC Recommendations Create Hidden Legal and Financial Risks

If the General Assembly adopts the recommendations of the Ad-Interim Committee (AIC) to permit the ordination of celibate homosexuals, it will have profound legal and financial consequences for churches in the EPC. These concerns are not addressed in the AIC final report or in any of the proposed documents that will be presented during the…