A Sinner’s Thoughts on Overture 15

By Jim Pocta, October 14, 2022. 

I am a sinner. That should come as no surprise to anyone especially since I hold to a Reformed perspective of the Faith.. I have sin within and without: I have sin and I have sinned. That is what I have confessed as per 1 John 1:9 which connotes an ongoing agreement of that understanding. And that means I have been forgiven and cleansed. My sinfulness is not altogether gone, though. I am still tempted and triggered to sin. In that, I am not unlike any other believing sinner on the face of the planet. The difference between us is the particular hue of our temptation. One of my temptations (oh, there are many) is that I am same-sex attracted. But I have to tread very carefully as to how I talk about that. I have to be extra careful how I describe myself and my unique temptations as there are many who are so uncomfortable with my brand of temptation that they want me out of leadership. 

I don’t like the phrase “gay Christian.” I personally feel that it’s not a helpful term but there are times when I’m sharing the Gospel with a gay man or lesbian that, as shorthand, I will acknowledge that I’m gay and go on to explain it as still possessing complicated desires, to identify with the people with whom I’m sharing. But many in my denomination seem to be saying  that if I describe myself in this manner, even while ministering to others, I’m disqualified for the larger ministry of shepherding. I’ll be removed from office as an elder. This is certainly how I hear the language of Overture 15.

I was honored to be a part of the group of six men who wrote the Ad Interim Committee Report on Human Sexuality. We made it clear in that document, which was unanimously received by our General Assembly, that wearing the monicker “gay” was unwise but did not rise to the level of discipline, only discipleship. We said it was unwise but that we don’t need to police the language of our undershepherds. 

In the past several years I have watched men who are elders I love and care about leave the PCA rather than deal with others constantly looking over their shoulders. No other temptation, neither gluttony, divisiness, nor gossip, none, even when those temptations are actually acted upon, are being treated with the same scrutiny. Rather than rejoicing that God has reached into the LGBTQ community and snatched many out, sanctifying them, using them for the furtherance of the Kingdom, there is name calling and harsh law imposed discouraging them and pushing them out of ministry.

Overture 15 is a case where this issue is being dealt with improperly. “Describing” is a broad term and puts undue pressure on the elder who struggles with SSA who wants to speak honestly about his life. It’s unnecessary. Its ramifications are harmful. This will cause more godly men to leave us and keep godly men from coming forward. We want and need these strugglers, like all strugglers, to be in leadership. The additional phrase about “claiming to be celibate” casts doubt on the integrity of that elder. This is uncalled for. “And such were some of you” covers a multitude of sinners who, while being sanctified, are just exactly who we want in ministry to be used by God to magnify his boundless grace.

My hope and prayer is that the PCA rejects Overture 15 so that men like me can continue to serve the Lord within our denomination.

Jim Pocta, a Ruling Elder at New St Peter’s Presbyterian Church, PCA. Jim has been married to his wife Linda for 43 years and is a Biblical counselor in the Dallas area working with the sexually broken. Jim also served on the PCA Ad Interim Committee on Human Sexuality.