Ordination and exclusion

Ordination and Exclusion

For items on "Living with the Authoritative Interpretation" >>

Cases and actions working through the 2006 GA action allowing respect for conscience

For a variety of items relating to issues of gender and justice >>

From More Light Presbyterians ...

Answering God's Call to Serve:
218th GA Ordination Overture 08-B

[9-9-08, revised 9-13-08]

The National Board of Directors of More Light Presbyterians unanimously and joyfully affirmed its support of the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Overture 08-B and the following statement on September 6, 2008 during its recent board meeting in Santa Fe, NM.

Ordination Overture 08-B is being considered by the presbyteries for ratification over the next nine months. A simple majority vote is needed for ratification.

We rejoice in how God's Spirit moved the General Assembly in San Jose this summer. As we enter into this period of discernment, dialogue and decision we pray that the Spirit will be in every conversation, every presbytery discussion, every vote and with our entire Church.

Answering God’s Call to Serve!

218th General Assembly
Ordination Overture 08-B

    * Obedient to Jesus
    * Led by Scripture
    * Instructed by the Confessions

Proposed new text for G-6.0106b:
"Those who are called to ordained service in the church,
by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination
and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church,
striving to follow where he leads
through the witness of the Scriptures,
and to understand the Scriptures
through the instruction of the Confessions.
In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the
standards of the Church.
Each governing body charged with examination
for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate's
sincere efforts to adhere to these standards."

This overture honors and restores our traditional Reformed understandings of ordination. It places emphasis where it always has been in our Church, and where it should be today – on the vows taken by all officers. These offices of service and ministry include deacon, elder and Minister of the Word and Sacrament. Those vows are to live a life exemplified by Jesus and in fidelity to the Scriptures and Confessions of the Church.

This overture lifts up standards for ordination as the cornerstone for service. This honors our roots while transcending old divisions. It enables us to move forward together in Christian service. It unites us in a single truth, which we have always believed – to heed God’s call to service wherever it comes, whenever it comes, and to whomever it comes.

For thirty years we have suffered from the divisions caused by the narrow and unprecedented discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) will be healed when the call to office is returned to the governing and electing bodies who know the potential officer’s character and gifts for office. The Presbyterian Church (USA)) will be healed when the call to serve is returned to the governing and electing bodies who know the potential officer’s character and gifts for that office.

We urge all Presbyterians to prayerfully consider and to vote YES on Overture 08-B! We invite all of you to join this effort to ratify Ordination Overture 08-B.

For more information, educational resources and organizing opportunities, stay tuned at www.mlp.org or call the National MLP Field Office at (505) 820-7082. Together We are Building a Church for All God's People!

with hope and grace,

Michael

PS - There is a place for everyone in this "Answering God's Call to Serve" Campaign. Stand by for a FAQ on 08-B, educational resources and local organizing tips.

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians
369 Montezuma Avenue # 447
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA
(505) 820-7082
michaeladee@aol.com
www.mlp.org

Witherspoon co-moderator affirms ordination for a fully inclusive church {6-24-08]

On Saturday morning (long, long ago!), June 21, the Witherspoon Society presented a time of orientation for commissioners and others – offering some practical hints for working effectively in the Assembly, and some perspectives on a few of the issues that, from our justice-oriented focus, seem most important.

One of those issues, of course, is the question of whether our church will truly welcome lgbt members into its life and leadership. Witherspoon Co-Moderator Jake Young presented this perspective:

Read his statement >>

Ray Bagnuolo offers careful thinking – and strong advocacy – for inclusive ordination [6-14-08]

The Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, who describes himself as a gay Presbyterian minister of Word and Sacrament, is currently serving as interim pastor of Palisades (NY) Presbyterian Church.

Over the past few months he has posted six carefully considered and documented papers dealing with the ongoing debate about ordination of lgbt Presbyterians.

Details and links to each of the papers >>

Overtures Dealing with Ordination of Gay and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Persons

by Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst

[5-24-08]

The “ordination question” is an old one in the Presbyterian Church, going back to the 1970s and the “definitive guidance” issued by the 1978 General Assembly which cast doubt on the ordination of persons with same-sex orientation. Several overtures coming to this GA include language rescinding that definitive guidance.

Debate was intensified with the adoption of G-6.0106b (“Amendment B”) in 1996-97, with its restrictive language. Several attempts have been made to delete or amend this article, losing narrowly in the presbyteries.

As the church tried to deal with serious differences, the 2001 General Assembly appointed the Theological Task Force (TTF) on the Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church (PUP), and its key recommendations were adopted by the 2006 General Assembly, including a new Authoritative Interpretation (AI) that affirmed paragraph G-6.0108 in the Form of Government. This defends freedom of conscience in all matters that are not “essentials” of faith, polity, or practice.

Tensions were increased earlier this year when the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) of the General Assembly ruled that one restrictive provision of G-6.0106b (“fidelity and chastity,” not all the other practices that the confessions call sin) is, in effect, an “essential” that must be upheld. This went contrary to the letter and spirit of the 2006 AI.

Some of the overtures coming to this GA are responses to these most recent developments, the 2006 AI and the recent PJC decision. Others deal with long-term questions about the church’s attitude toward same-sex relationships and specifically the restrictions in G-6.0106b.

Overtures related to G-6.0108 and the “PUP AI”

In the wake of the PJC decision making one sentence in G-6.0106b an absolute requirement for ordination, an overture from the Presbytery of John Knox calls for a new AI declaring that G-6.0108 applies equally to all ordination standards. This overture has been advocated by Mark Achtemeier, a conservative member of the Theological Task Force. (Some angry conservatives, apparently viewing him as a traitor, are calling this the “Achtemeier overture.”) Adopting this AI is certainly the least that this Assembly can do to get the church back on the course set by the 2006 AI.

Many presbyteries are bringing overtures that reinforce the 2006 AI and, building on the experience of sessions and presbyteries, seek its more effective implementation. The overtures

(a) commend those presbyteries and sessions that have incorporated theological reflection and prayerful discernment into their examination procedures;

(b) direct the Stated Clerk to collect models of such procedures and make them available to the whole church; and

(c) remind governing bodies to take theological reflection and discernment seriously as they carry out their constitutional responsibilities.

These overtures come from Scioto Valley, Cayuga-Syracuse, Giddings-Lovejoy, Redwoods, Maumee Valley, Middle Tennessee, Cascades, Western Reserve, Albany, National Capital, and Heartland.

But not all presbyteries favor the 2006 AI. Their overtures follow several different strategies:

(1) rescind the AI (South Louisiana, St. Andrew, Sacramento, Huntingdon, and Central Washington);

(2) amend the AI with additional wording to make it more restrictive (St. Andrew, Pittsburgh);

(3) offer substitute wording that is more restrictive (St. Andrew, Huntingdon, Pittsburgh);

(4) make all the “shalls” in the Form of Government essential for ordination (Cherokee, Los Ranchos, Charleston-Atlantic).

Overtures related to G-6.0106b

A number of overtures call for an amendment to the Form of Government, deleting G-6.0106b (“Amendment B”) and issuing a new AI. These come from Hudson River, National Capital, Baltimore, Albany, New York City, Redwoods, and Genesee Valley.

Various people have commented that this approach, while it would remove a paragraph that has caused much hurt and division in the church, is simply negative, trying to remove it from the face of the earth.

They favor a “let’s make it better” approach, and there are several overtures that offer wording to replace the unjust and prejudicial language in G-6.0106b. No fewer than three different choices are being offered. One formulation comes from Boston; another from Cincinnati and Santa Fe; a third from New Hope.

From the conservative side, an overture from St. Andrew would amend this paragraph with stricter wording. And a proposed AI from Huntingdon would declare it an essential of Reformed faith and polity.

Overtures dealing with marriage

The definition of marriage in the Directory for Worship has led to several controversies in past General Assemblies. Overtures proposing a broader definition of marriage as a “covenant between two people” have been sent by Baltimore and Hudson River.

An overture from New Brunswick and Denver would affirm equal civil protections for same-sex couples and call for a special committee that would study marriage laws and their effects and examine the unique needs in pastoral care for same-sex couples.

Overtures dealing with the Book of Confessions

In the Heidelberg Catechism, the answer to Q. 87 includes “homosexual perversion” as one of the marks of those who cannot inherit the kingdom of God (C-4.087). People who know the text of the catechism from other Reformed churches, or have looked up the original German, will know that this language is not there. It was added in the 1960s, when the entire Book of Confessions was adopted in order to include more of the rich tradition of the Reformed churches. Its wording, furthermore, seems to make sexual orientation, not behavior alone, into a sin.

A number of overtures call for a more authentic wording, with three different approaches.

Some ask, in a general way, that the translation of the Catechism be replaced with a more faithful one (Northern Kansas, Pittsburgh, New York City, Chicago).

Two (from Boston and Winnebago) would adopt the translation now used by the Christian Reformed Church. [Author’s note: this translation, while accurate, loses much of the colloquial force of the original German and thus takes on a more dogmatic tone.]

One, from Newark, offers specific changes of wording not only for this but for three other passages in the Heidelberg Catechism.

For more on the Heidelberg Catechism >>

Where we stand:

The Witherspoon Society has championed inclusiveness in the church for the last 35 years. It opposed the 1978 definitive guidance and the 1996 “Amendment B.” It has sought removal or alteration of G-6.0106b. It favored the adoption of the 2006 AI, while regarding it as only a partial measure, and it deplores the PJC decision that goes against the letter and the spirit of that AI. We urge the Assembly to adopt another AI that reaffirms the 2006 AI, and to send to the presbyteries an amendment that removes the prejudicial language of G-6.0106b. We also commend the overtures regarding marriage and the Heidelberg Catechism.

Wisdom from the Scots Confession
in considering the need for change of G-6.0106b
[3-21-08]

This note came to us through an e-list of More Light Presbyterians. The author, Witherspoon member Charles Forbes, has kindly given us permission to post it here.

Greetings,

Those who know me would know that perusing the Book of Confessions is not a likely pastime for me, but that is what I found myself doing the other day, for very arcane reasons. I happened upon a Chapter of the Scots Confession that speaks, I think, rather boldly to G-6.0106b. I don't pass this reference along because I believe that it will change the polity climate of the PCUSA in the near term. But it does give comfort to those whose consciences are torn between justice and their ordination vows, which call not only for conformity to church polity, but to be instructed by its Confessions.

Chapter XVIII of the Scots Confession is entitled "The Notes by Which the True Kirk Shall Be Determined From the False, and Who Shall Be Judge of Doctrine."

The chapter concludes:

When controversy arises about the right understanding of any passage or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of any abuse within the Kirk of God, we ought not so much to ask what men have said or done before us, as what the Holy Ghost uniformly speaks within the body of the Scriptures and what Christ Jesus himself did and commanded. For it is agreed by all that the Spirit of God, who is the Spirit of unity, cannot contradict himself. So if the interpretation or opinion of any theologian, Kirk, or council, is contrary to the plain Word of God written in any other passage of the Scripture, it is most certain that this is not the true understanding and meaning of the Holy Ghost, although councils, realms, and nations have approved and received it. We dare not receive or admit any interpretation which is contrary to any principal point of our faith, or to any other plain text of Scripture, or to the rule of love.

Fairly paraphrased, no interpretation or opinion of any council (read, GA) even though councils, realms, and nations have approved and received it (e.g. G-6.0106b) it is not the true understanding of the Holy Ghost if it is contrary to ... the rule of love.

I love the elevation of "the rule of love" to the same status as "any plain text of Scripture"!

Going straight to the point, surely G-6.0106b is an "abuse within the Kirk of God" is it not?

"It's in the Book!"

Charles Forbes
Baltimore

The Rev. Hal Porter, of Cincinnati, then sent this comment:

It is always good to receive Charles Forbes “musings.” His comments should remind us of the last major statement of our church in the early 1980’s regarding “Presbyterian Understanding and Use of Holy Scripture.” The document is still available on line or in pamphlet form from OGA. The relevant passage is as follows:

5. The Rule of Love: The fundamental expression of God’s will is the two-fold commandment to love God and neighbor, and all interpretations are to be judged by the question whether they offer and support the love given and commanded by God. When interpretations do no meet this criterion, it must be asked whether the text has been used correctly in the light of the whole Scripture and its subject.

Any interpretation of Scripture is wrong which separates or sets in opposition love for God and love for fellow human being, including both love expressed in individual relations and in human community (social action). No interpretation of Scripture is correct which leads to or supports contempt for any individual or group of persons either within or outside of the church. Such results from the interpretation of Scripture plainly indicate that the rule of love has not been honored. This rule reminds us forcefully that as the rule of faith and life, Scripture is to be interpreted not just to discover what we are to think or what benefits we receive from God in Christ, but to discover how we are to live.

The passage from the Scots Confession Charles muses on is used to underline the above passage in “Presbyterian Understanding and Use of Holy Scripture.” Certainly we have failed this Rule of Love as we interpreted the scriptures and Charles is right to apply it to the contemptible G-6.0106b. Thanks, Charles.

Hal Porter

GA Permanent Judicial Commission rules out conscientious objection to “fidelity and chastity” requirement

PJC says only a constitutional amendment will change things [2-16-08]

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) has overthrown the authoritative interpretation that the General Assembly approved in 2006, which would have allowed candidates for ordination to declare a “scruple” against a particular requirement for ordination, on the grounds that they could not in conscience adhere to it.

Specifically this means that any candidate for ordination as a minister or elder must obey the requirement of “fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness,” which was added to the Book of Order as provision G-6.0106b.

The ruling of the GA PJC, issued on February 11, 2008, actually deals with three cases, all of which touch on the issue of sexuality and ordination.

The action of the 2006 General Assembly left it up to the discernment of the ordaining body (the session for elders, the presbytery for ministers) as to whether the ordination requirement must be regarded as “essential,” and therefore an absolute requirement, or might be seen as not essential, and therefore might be set aside in the case of a particular individual.

This PJC ruling describes the “fidelity and chastity” provision as “a mandatory standard that cannot be waived.” Further, it makes clear that while candidates may be permitted to “depart” from ordination standards related to belief, they cannot be allowed the same freedom of conscience with regard to behavior.

And it upheld language from a prior Synod of the Trinity PJC ruling which made a distinction between allowing departures from the church’s standards related to belief – but not departures related to behavior.

Presbyterians committed to a fully open and inclusive church, including its practices of ordination, have differed over the past few years in their strategies for dealing with the essentially exclusionary demands for “fidelity and chastity.” Some have sought a gradual approach to changing practice and the application of ordination standards through action in presbyteries, which others have believes that no real change would happen until the “fidelity and chastity” requirement in G-6.0106b of the Book of Order is totally removed.

The PJC seems to side with the latter approach, especially when it declares: “the fidelity and chastity standard may only be changed by a constitutional amendment. Until that occurs, individual candidates, officers, examining and governing bodies must adhere to it.”

It seems likely that this action will reverse the moves toward a more inclusive church recently taken by two presbyteries: On January 15, San Francisco presbytery voted 167 to 151 to approve as “ready for examination” Lisa Larges, a lesbian who works for the advocacy group, That All May Freely Serve. And on January 26, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area voted 196 to 79 to restore the ordination of Paul Capetz, a gay seminary professor who voluntarily set aside his ordination in 2000 in protest over the PC(USA)’s ordination standards.

More reports and comments >>

	from Presbyterian Outlook and the Louisville Courier-Journal
	from the Office of the General Assembly -- an Advisory Opinion
	from More Light Presbyterians
	from Ray Bagnuolo, “openly gay Presbyterian minister”
	from That All May Freely Serve
	from Presbyterians for Renewal
	An open letter to the PC(USA) from "Your Candidates and Inquirers for the Ministry of Word and Sacrament who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer"

We welcome your comments and additions!
Just send a note.

The Soul-Sucking, Imagination-Challenged, Trust-Bereft Thing We Call The Examination of Candidates for Ordination

by Jan Edmiston [10-6-07]

So . . . is this how it’s going to be?

A presumably pre-assigned elder or clergy member of the Presbytery will stand up, identify himself or herself, and then ask a candidate for ordination, "Since we as a Presbytery haven’t heard your answer, can you tell us if you are now and do you plan in the future to be in compliance with the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness?"

Even after the chairperson of the Committee on Ministry has already declared before God and the Presbytery that candidates are asked a rigorous litany of questions – including that one – this question continues to be asked, making what is supposed to be an engaging and helpful examination into an eye-rolling, humiliating, yes – soul sucking – exercise in power and self-righteousness.

Was this the intention of the Report on Peace, Unity, and Purity?

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary Professor Cynthia Rigby (who reminded us that "Presbyterian" is still part of the name of that institution) asked us at the September Presbytery meeting to consider whether we care more about being imaginative or being right. Is it worse to be boring or to be wrong? Clearly, the votes have been cast.

Will it be like this forever? Could we, in solidarity with the Peace, Unity, and Purity Committee, break bread together, perhaps, and talk like sisters and brothers in Christ? Or is this simply real live verification that we can further the peace or the unity or the purity of the church – but we can’t further all three?

These episodes are demeaning and beneath us as disciples of Jesus Christ. I am, frankly, without the right words to express my dismay.

But I’d like to offer a challenge:

- If you feel moved to defend standards of ordination by asking this question, please also agree to meet with someone with whom you disagree about this issue prior to the examination for prayer and conversation.

- Meet with the candidate prior to the examination for prayer and conversation.

- Meet with someone from the Committee on Ministry and/or Committee on Preparation for Ministry for prayer and conversation.

And as we listen to each other, we need to remember that listening is not simply waiting for our turn to talk. At the risk of sounding self-righteous myself, I humbly request that we stop lifting up "sexual standards" as the primary standard for ordination. It only serves to further divide the Body of Christ, and I tremble at the thought of how Jesus would respond to this.

Ordination is not about any one issue. It’s about the full package of God’s calling, serious preparation, and community confirmation. And the more that people insist on harping on a single matter, the less seriously they will be taken. In the spirit of peace, unity, and purity I want to take all my colleagues in ministry seriously.

The author: Jan Edmiston is the pastor of Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Virginia and a blogger at A Church for Starving Artists .

First published in the National Capital Monthly, the newsletter of the National Capital Presbytery, Washington, DC.

Finding a new place to answer call

Gay graduate of Austin Seminary leaves denomination to pursue ministry.
[3-13-07]

A message from Michael Adee, National Field Organizer of More Light Presbyterians

Karen Thompson said she is sad, but not bitter that the Presbyterian Church is still struggling with sexuality issues in ordaining ministers. God led her to the seminary, she says, though now she'll be answering his call to serve elsewhere

Please join us in prayers of blessing for Karen Thompson, Austin Theological Seminary graduate, who is leaving the Presbyterian Church (USA) to follow God's call to serve as a pastor in another denomination, the Metropolitan Community Church.

Central Presbyterian Church, Austin, Texas held a special service of Hope and Reconciliation yesterday as they said farewell to Karen Thompson who had been under their care throughout her theological studies at Austin Theological Seminary.

Faith Presbyterian Church, Austin, a More Light Church where Karen served as a seminary intern honored her with a stole to be shared with The Shower of Stoles Project.

In writing about Karen Thompson's following her call from God to serve in ministry, Flynn describes this decision as: "Finding a new place to answer call," with the second statement - "Gay graduate of seminary leaves denomination to pursue ministry." This is, of course, an indictment of our Church and denomination --- that a seminary graduate must leave our denomination to pursue ministry.

The title and subtitle of Eileen Flynn's article should indeed be a "wake up" call to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and other denominations who fail to recognize that God creates all of God's own children in the image of God including God's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children -- and that God does not just call heterosexuals into ministry any more God just calls men or white people to serve.

How many more of our own daughters and sons, and their calls to ministry, are we willing to sacrifice by allowing prejudice and discrimination against LGBT persons to continue in our Church?

Please join us in prayers for wisdom and courage for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to stop the prejudice and end its discrimination against its own LGBT daughters and sons now.

The Session of your Church can be part of ending this prejudice and discrimination by prayerfully considering an Ordination Overture to "delete-B" for the next General Assembly in San Jose 2008. Mike Smith and Madeline Jervis, National MLP Board, are ready to provide resources and assistance to you. www.mlp.org

May God's Spirit continue to bless Karen and her family as they begin a new journey and a new ministry.

with hope and grace,

Michael

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., National Field Organizer

More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA
(505) 820-7082
michaeladee@aol.com
www.mlp.org