Complaints filed

Complaints against Morrison ordination

Witherspoon supports those accused of "renouncing jurisdiction" because of issues of ordination and sexuality [4-29-02]

As the Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society met on April 21-23, we were keenly aware of the accusations that have been leveled against a number of our friends and colleagues in ministry. We have adopted a statement expressing support for the people who have been accused, and pledged to do what we can to assist them.

The Rev. Betty Hale responded to the report on complaints against numerous Presbyterians with this e-mail comment:

I think the accused should argue that they are obeying Westminster: "All synods or councils since the apostles' times, whether general or particular, may err, and many have erred; therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith or practice, but to be used as a help in both." [6.175]

Maybe it was when we Presbyterians disobeyed Westminster that we fell amongst all our troubles.

Betty Hale
Roxboro NC

[4-27-02]

Eight complaints (not "disciplinary cases," as stated by the Layman Online) have been filed relating to the recent ordination of the Rev. Katie Morrison, who is now serving as a staff member of More Light Presbyterians

[3-28-02]

According to a new report by the Layman Online, Paul Rolf Jensen, an attorney in Reston, VA, who recently filed complaints against the pastor and a former pastor of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, has now filed eight complaints against the Rev. Katie Morrison, who was recently ordained by the Presbytery of Redwoods, along with the Moderator of the presbytery, other participants in her ordination, and even Ms. Morrison's father. The charges accuse the Presbyterian officers of "renouncing the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA)."

Various observers have noted that in this case, as in the Mt. Auburn cases, Mr. Jensen has standing as a Presbyterian to file complaints, but that only a governing body (a session or a presbytery) can take action, by appointing an investigating committee which would then decide whether charges should be filed against someone.

It will be interesting to see whether it will be ruled that a father may not take part in the ordination of his daughter, and a woman can be charged with the "sin" of homosexuality solely on the evidence of her accepting employment with That All May Freely Serve, and others can be charged with participating in an ordination approved by a presbytery.

Comments

Two stated clerks offer comments on the complaints [4-1-02]

	Raymond Kersting ponders the various ways in which such complaints might be handled, and the standing -- or lack of standing -- of Mr. Jensen to file such complaints.
	Frank Baldwin expresses concern about the cost of all these cases, and hopes that people on the other side of the issue of ordination will not respond with charges of their own, no matter how justifiable they might seem.

We have already received comments from Witherspoon member John Harris (who expresses concern about the "blood-letting" that will be started by this "witch-hunt"), and from the national Board of More Light Presbyterians (lamenting the addition of more "anti-gay judicial complaints.")

Presbyterian News Service reports

[3-30-02]

PNS has carried two reports by Alexa Smith, one detailing the variety of complaints recently filed by Paul Jensen, and the other surveying the broader picture of various challenges being leveled against gay-friendly congregations and individuals, in the wake of the defeat of Amendment A.

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