To the editor:

Robert Gagnon’s September 14, 2005, response to Art Seaman’s posting is unusually concise and succinct, at least for Gagnon. He is very good at proof texting and wrapping his work in the lordship of Jesus Christ, the authority of Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the Reformers.

I would caution Mr. Seaman about responding again. Mr. Gagnon will not let anyone have the last word. For example Gagnon, along with Dan O. Via, wrote “Homosexuality and the Bible: Two Views” (Augsburg Fortress Publishers, September, 2003). Not satisfied to present his view and Via’s view, Gagnon felt compelled to write a rejoinder in November, 2003, dissecting Via’s portion of the book.

Aside from some self-congratulatory, sanctimonious and, at times, sarcastic language, Gagnon’s analysis of the Task Force’s recommendation 5 is on the mark. I particularly liked “that Recommendation 5 will disempower (one is tempted to say disembowel) the sexuality standards in G-6.0106b.” Outright repeal would be more honest and certainly more desirable.

I’m comforted by Gagnon’s comment in the Task Force critique “a dirty little secret of most PCUSA seminaries is that, with the exception of an occasional token, the best way for most candidates to a faculty position to shoot themselves in the foot is to come out strongly in favor of the current sexuality standards in the Constitution during interviews.” We can only hope.