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| |
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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 >>
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
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An index of
our reports
from
BECOMING NEIGHBORS:
An Invitation
to Global Discipleship
A Witherspoon conference
on global mission and justice
September 16 - 19, 2007
Louisville, Kentucky |
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Check out our report from the
Conference
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Terror, Torture,
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