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geddingsm
Member



Joined: 2003/11/3
Posts: 61
south carolina

 presbyterian gay minister will remain sexually active

Gay minister ordained in Dobbs Ferry
By HANNAN ADELY
THE JOURNAL NEWS


(Original publication: November 14, 2005)


DOBBS FERRY — It was almost a typical ceremony for Raymond Bagnuolo, who yesterday was ordained a minister during a service at South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry.

Asked if he accepted the Scriptures, if he believed in one God and creator, if he would proclaim the word and sacrament, Bagnuolo responded yes. But when asked if he would abide by the church's constitution, Bagnuolo said he had one exception.

He would not abide by a church amendment that calls for its ordained leaders to practice fidelity in marriage or chastity if single, a measure aimed at excluding gays from being ordained. Bagnuolo, who is openly gay, believes the amendment questions God's creation and contributes to violence against the gay community.

Yesterday, he celebrated his ordination with members of the Dobbs Ferry church and with other ministers from throughout the region.

"This is a happy and wonderful indication of what can happen when you don't give up and when you wait and see what God has in store for you," said Bagnuolo, 54, of White Plains.

Other gay candidates have omitted details of their personal lives when questioned for ministerial positions, church leaders said yesterday, but Bagnuolo was vocal about his sexuality from the beginning.

Yesterday, the Rev. Janie Adams Spahr, director of That All May Freely Serve, an organization that works for the ordination of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender candidates in the Presbyterian Church, thanked Bagnuolo for his efforts.

"Thank you for your integrity, your honesty and for saying out loud what is just and what is right," Spahr said.

The Presbytery of Hudson River approved Bagnuolo for ordainment in September, but the ordination could face a judicial challenge from the Presbyterian Church USA.

The Rev. David Prince, interim executive presbyter, or ruling elder, of the Hudson River Presbytery, said yesterday he was proud of the decision, adding that Bagnuolo was highly qualified for the post.

"It gives me hope that the presbytery of which we are part of will again someday be at the vanguard of social issues," he said.

Bagnuolo will serve as minister of the Palisades Presbyterian Church in Palisades, N.Y. Yesterday, he was jubilant.

Karen Engelmann, a member of the South Presbyterian Church, came to the ordination to support Bagnuolo, in what she called a terrific event. "I think we should be very proud and honored that this event would take place here," she said.

The Hudson River Presbytery is among the more liberal in the country. At least 16 congregations have declared their willingness to call gay ministers in defiance of the church's constitution.

Yesterday, Bagnuolo and Spahr said more work was needed to allow other qualified gay church members to be ordained.

"Our work is to continue to make it possible so the faith community can choose the best candidates," Spahr said. "We want to give people the chance to do what they were born to do."



_________________
marvin geddings

 2005/11/14 9:10Profile
ginnyrose
Member



Joined: 2004/7/7
Posts: 7534
Mississippi

 Re: presbyterian gay minister will remain sexually active

Disgusting does not do justice to what I think and feel about these poor, misguided, deceived people. We know what God thinks about it and obviously they do not want to.

It is indeed a sad day when Sodom calls itself by a church name!

ginnyrose


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Sandra Miller

 2005/11/14 9:21Profile
groh_frog
Member



Joined: 2005/1/5
Posts: 432


 Re: presbyterian gay minister will remain sexually active

I'm a lying, theiving, adulterer (shall I continue?) at heart, and the Law shows us why we need to repent, why we need Christ. But when you begin to change what God says, you begin to create a 'god' that fits yourself. The fact that this church denies such a clear doctrine and teaches their own feelings... It's the Blind leading the blind, and now deceiving in the name of the Light and Truth. Pray for our Brothers and Sisters who might be deceived and led astray down there.

Grace and Peace...

 2005/11/14 10:09Profile









 Re:

Well, at least he had integrity enough to be honest in the fact that he will not give up his lust and bebauchery. He gets an "atta-boy" for that.

What a scourge this whole issue is. He is supposedly a "minister of God", and yet the Bible plainly states that this man does not even know God, and will not enter into His Kingdom unless he repents and turns away from this.

Krispy

 2005/11/14 10:55
Nellie
Member



Joined: 2004/4/5
Posts: 952


 Re:

There is none so blind as those who refuse to see.
These people think that they can have God, and their sin.
May God have mercy and open their eyes.
God Bless
Nellie

 2005/11/14 12:22Profile





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