Pastor Ron Scates
Your weekday morning blend from Instant Tea:
1. The Minnesota Senate voted 38-27 Wednesday to place a constitutional amendment on the 2012 ballot that would ban same-sex marriage. Minnesota already has a statute limiting marriage to one man and one woman, but Republicans in the Legislature are apparently looking for a boost in next year’s election. Only one Democrat in the Senate voted in favor of the amendment, which now goes to the Republican-controlled House, where it is also expected to pass. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton opposes the measure but cannot veto it. Constitutional amendments banning same-sex marriage have passed in all 31 states where voters have considered them. On the bright side, Delaware’s civil unions bill was signed into law Wednesday night and will take effect next year.
2. Highland Park Presbyterian Church, led by our old friend Pastor Ron Scates, plans to send a letter to its 5,000 members reaffirning the congregation’s commitment to “traditional” marriage and celibacy for unmarried clergy, the Associated Press reports. The letter comes in the wake of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s decision this week to remove the celibacy requirement for unmarried clergy, thus paving the way for the ordination of gays and lesbians. Pastor Scates has long been a vocal opponent of gay clergy, and Highland Park Presbyterian has formed a task force to study the impact of the new policy. In 2009, Scates admitted in a personal letter to Instant Tea that he’s “been taken into the world of homosexual sex …” and sent us a copy of a newsletter from an “ex-gay” group.
3. Contrary to some published reports, Uganda’s Parliament still plans to consider an Anti-Homosexuality Bill this year that currently includes a death penalty provision for repeat offenders and other violators. The Uganda parliament is now scheduled to debate the bill on Friday.
John……….I
really AM your “old friend”.Friends always speak the Truth even when its costly and non-PC……and friends always want only what is God’s best for others ,as He reveals what’s best in His Word.I really am your friend,and not your enemy……..nor the enemy of the homosexual community.As your friend,I will continue to call both you and me from the brokeness of our sexuality toward who Christ wants us to be and how He wants us to live our lives…..for our best and His glory.With Christ,all things ARE possible.My,and God’s,best to you this day.
Perhaps the sexuality of the person who submitted the previous comment is broken. Mine isn’t and it’s value doesn’t depend on anyone else’s opinion. My relationship with God is direct and not through anyone who tries to come between me and God. While other Presbyterian congregations are growing in Christ, Scates has shown his contempt for other Christians.
pastor scates. i am 1000% in your corner. i am a 30 something from a broken home. as i grew up, without a father, i can clearly remember times where i faced bullies and lost. by lost, i mean not physically, but mentally. i felt no support, what-so-ever, from the father i sooooo much missed. no strong male role model was there to answer my questions about WHY bullies, bully. without my 4 brothers, myself, being a skinny kid, i can vouch what strong male role models, can do. as i grew older, i appreciated my family—my 4 brothers, specifically. thru large and small, i learned a simple but powerful lesson. 4 brothers teach you to be honest with everyone, because there are no secrets with 4 brothers and no sisters. keep up the fight. you are not alone.
I feel sorry for Rev. Scates. Nothing is so emotionally and spiritually draining as to try and force oneself to effect a biological change that, quite frankly, is not possible. Sexual orientation is genetic. Medical research has proven that conclusively. A person’s genetics cannot be changed. It’s a shame that some individuals are either unable or unwilling to accept that fact, based solely on a book that was written–by humans–many centuries ago.