A Red Line on Ordination and Same-Sex Attraction in the EPC
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church has long held that ordination is not a right, but a calling that must meet the highest biblical and spiritual standards. As the Book of Government states:
“According to Scripture, those who bear office in the Church should exhibit certain characteristics of life. This includes being above reproach, sound in the faith, wise in the things of God, and discreet in all things. Persons who fill this office should exhibit a lifestyle that is an example to all, both in and outside the Church…” (BoG 9-3A)
This language reflects a deep biblical conviction: those entrusted with spiritual leadership in Christ’s church must not only affirm sound doctrine but also embody it. Their lives are to be shaped by increasing conformity to Christ and maturity in godliness (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1). In light of this call, we must be clear: neither a person who self-identifies as a “gay Christian,” nor one who continues to experience ongoing same-sex attraction—regardless of how they label it—should be considered a qualified candidate for ordination in the EPC.
This stance is not a denial of the gospel’s power to forgive sin, nor is it a rejection of the real and complex struggles that accompany same-sex attraction. We acknowledge that believers come from many backgrounds, including sexual brokenness, and we rejoice in the sanctifying work of the Spirit that brings genuine healing over time. However, ordination demands evidence of progress in sanctification and the ability to serve as a model for the flock.
We are not setting a red line to create a class of untouchables or to despise those who battle SSA. Rather, we seek to maintain both pastoral compassion and doctrinal integrity – truth and love. The church should minister to those who struggle with same-sex attraction with gentleness, patience, and hope, calling them to die to self, take up their cross, and follow Jesus. But ordination must be reserved for those who have borne fruit in keeping with repentance and who exhibit maturity in sexual holiness. This includes those who, if they once struggled with SSA, now enjoy marked freedom from its power and no longer claim it as part of their identity.
In short, the high calling of ordination is incompatible with a settled identification as a “gay Christian” or with ongoing patterns of same-sex attraction. We affirm that God can and does deliver His people from every form of sin and disordered desire, including those of a sexual nature. And we expect that those who lead His church will be living testimonies to that redeeming and renewing grace. Placing church members, Presbyters or GA Commissioners under the authority of those who identify as a “gay Christian” or with ongoing patterns of same-sex attraction would be unconscionable, divisive and contrary to Scripture.
To ordain individuals who continue to experience same-sex attraction would be to compromise the purity and peace of Christ’s church. The tragic witness of mainline denominations makes clear the danger of even incremental departures from biblical standards. We must not follow them down that path. Our calling is to remain steadfast, measuring our life and doctrine by the plumb line of God’s Word, and entrusting the health and future of the church not to cultural approval, but to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the sanctifying work of His Spirit.
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Current signatories:
TE Nate Atwood, Central Carolinas
TE Grady Davidson, Southeast
TE Paul Bammel, East
TE David Weber, New River
RE Gordon Miller, New River
TE Ron DiNunzio, East
RE Kenneth Roberts, West
TE Andy Schuster, Central Carolinas
RE Rick Tuit, East
TE Don Hurray, Alleghenies
TE Robert Olszewski, Florida & Caribbean
RE Kerry Beard, Florida & Caribbean
TE Peter Larson, Midwest
TE Joseph Rearick, Alleghenies
TE Ryan Doyle, Central South
TE Adel Thalos, Southeast
TE Sierra Carlos, Florida & Caribbean
TE Mary Brown, Great Plains
RE Alfredo Aponte, Florida & Caribbean
TE Brett Barksdale, Rivers & Lakes
RE Jaime Infanzon, Florida & Caribbean
RE Bill Robertson, New River
RE Everall Peele, New River
TE G. Carl Moore, Alleghenies
RE Michael King, Central Carolinas
RE Carlos Rodriguez Torres, Florida & Caribbean
RE Mariano Salgado, Florida & Caribbean
TE Daniel Pinckney, Southeast
RE Robert Barnhart, Florida & Caribbean
RE Abraham Montes, Florida & Caribbean
RE John Price, Central Carolinas
RE Angelo Sun, Alleghenies
TE Chris Parnell, Coastal Mid-Atlantic
RE Lourdes Rivera, Florida & Caribbean
RE Clint Cline, Florida & Caribbean
RE Carmen Negroón-Alicea, Florida & Caribbean
RE Termarie De la Torre, Florida & Caribbean
RE Ángel L Gonzalez, Florida & Caribbean
RE Kenneth Bradford, New River
RE Paul Bright, Gulf South
RE Edwin Quinones , Florida & Caribbean
RE Trace Kaiser, Gulf South
RE George Christopher Eberdt, Gulf South
RE Jon Stacey Miller, Coastal Mid-Atlantic
TE D. Bryan Rhodes, Gulf South
RE Gary Smith, Gulf South
RE J. Neil Barham, Gulf South
RE Steve Mathis, Gulf South
TE Don Fortson, Central Carolinas
RE Robert (Bobby) Smith , Gulf South
RE William G Smith, Gulf South
RE Annette Rajskup, Pacific Southwest
RE Lee Ekstrom, Midwest
RE Sherrie Ford, Southeast
RE Lori Graham, East
RE Phillip Prior, Florida & Caribbean
TE Edward Ramer, Gulf South
RE Philip Stump, Coastal Mid-Atlantic
RE Johnny Martinez , Florida & Caribbean
RE Lizzette G. Miranda, Florida & Caribbean
RE John Gill, Florida & Caribbean
TE Anthony G. Winterowd, Pacific Southwest
TE James N. McGuire, Midwest
RE Lori A Porter, Pacific Southwest
RE Alfredo Velez González , Florida & Caribbean
TE John Wilcox, East
RE A. B. Parker, Coastal Mid-Atlantic
TE Sharon Beekmann, West
TE Jeffrey Jeremiah, Pacific Northwest
TE Jonathan Rockness, New River
RE Jay McGhee, Mid-America
TE Don E. Galardi, Midwest
RE Nancy Vance, Pacific Northwest
RE Steven Peterson, Pacific Northwest
TE Philip Pent, Pacific Northwest
TE Kevin Anderson, Pacific Northwest
RE Karina Nott, Coastal Mid-Atlantic
TE David Dobbs, Central South
RE Wilson K Gay, New Roiver
RE Bert Murphy, New River
RE Russell Matney, New River
RE Andrew Shields, New River
RE Bill Richoux, Florida & Caribbean
RE Brian Nash, New River
TE Shane Whelan, New River
RE Earl Weaver, New River
RE Hermann Ulrich, New River
RE Clay Atkins, New River
TE David Milroy, Alleghenies
RE David S Sosin, New River
RE Patrick Smith, Alleghenies
RE Josh Polk, Alleghenies
RE Andrew Flowers, New River
RE Hugh Laughner, Alleghenies
RE Joel Anders, Alleghenies
RE Dave Young, New River
TE Brett Eubank, New River
RE Sherwood Day, New River
RE Sam Mizener, New River
TE John Cleveland, Southeast
RE Steve Gladden, Mid-Atlantic
RE Michael Roads, Central Carolinas
RE Larry Gregory, Central Carolinas
RE Anthony Current, Central Carolinas
RE Frank Bynum, Central Carolinas
RE Gregg Coniglio, Southeast
RE William B. Andrews, Central Carolinas
RE Daniel Burns, Central Carolinas
RE Gerry Edwards, Central Carolinas
RE John Franklin, Central Carolinas
RE Thomas Davis, Central Carolinas
RE Roby Wallin, Central Carolinas
RE Jeff Wong, Central Carolinas
RE Clifford S Newbury, Central Carolinas
RE Matthew Franklin, Central Carolinas
RE Mitchell A. Greene, Central Carolinas
RE Darwin Johnson, Central Carolinas
RE Mark Jenkins, Central Carolinas
RE Bryan McFarland, Central Carolinas
RE Robert Poole, Central Carolinas
RE John Agnew, Central Carolinas
TE Tim Carey, Central Carolinas
RE Jerry Dunning, Central Carolinas
RE Robert Clawson, Central Carolinas
TE Percy M. Burns, Central Carolinas
RE Wistar Nelligan, New River
RE Bob Pearson, Central Carolinas
RE Mark Guthrie, Central Carolinas
RE Massie Ware, New River
RE James Wade, New River
RE Randall Davy, New River
RE Douglas Wright, Mid-Atlantic