Homosexual "marriages" and ordinations of noncelibate homosexuals have become a catalyst for the splitting of denominations. However, secessionist bodies have existed for decades. In the instance of Presbyterians, the OPC (1930s start-up) and the EPC (1970s start-up) represented breakaways from the UPCUSA, the Northern Presbyterian church, while the PCA, another 1970s start-up, was a conservative split from the PCUS, the Southern Presbyterian church. All three groups believe in Biblical inerrancy and subscribe to a somewhat strict to very strict interpretation of the Westminster Standards. What is happening now is that even the moderates in the mainline churches are becoming fed up. They did not vigorously protest the de facto abandonment of the historic Reformation creeds and the Protestant "solas", the rise of the "social gospel", i.e., socialism and radical egalitarian baptized by church officials, and the ordination of women to the positions of deacon, elder, pastor, or priest. However, the rise of homosexual activism is the proverbial straw that broke the moderates' back.
The split between looser and stricter interpretations of the Westminster Standards had roiled Presbyterian circles for over a century before Fort Sumter. The slavery issue was the catalyst for the split between the Northern and Southern Presbyterian churches that had been brewing for several decades. Similar splits among Methodists and Baptists in the same time frame had older theological causes as well as immediate political ones. History may not exactly repeat itself, but you can hear similar tunes.
“What is happening now is that even the moderates in the mainline churches are becoming fed up.”
...yep, absolutely right...and it’s getting worse.
“History may not exactly repeat itself, but you can hear similar tunes.”
...I think so....homosexuality is the new slavery....next up on the back burner will be the mother-of-all-issues:
Will the Christendom resist the global ambitions of Islam?