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Milwaukee approves ordination ...  and justice

Eily Marlow approved for ordination

A press release from the Presbytery of Milwaukee


MILWAUKEE - February 23, 2005 - Eily Marlow, a chaplain in the Lilly Project at Macalester College, St. Paul MN, was affirmed for ordination today by a vote of the Presbytery of Milwaukee. The vote was 104 affirmative, 20 negative and 1 blank.

Ms. Marlow, when she became a candidate for ministry under the care of the Presbytery of Milwaukee in September 2003, shared with the body, that she was a lesbian. Currently, the Presbyterian Church (USA) prohibits self-avowed, practicing homosexuals to be ordained to the offices of elder, deacon or minister of Word and Sacrament.

Ms. Marlow is a graduate of Macalester College in St Paul, Minn., and earned her master of divinity degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 2002. Ms. Marlow passed the five required ordination examinations in the areas of biblical comprehension, worship, theology, polity and biblical exegesis. She prepared and preached a sermon before the presbytery's Committee on Preparation for Ministry.

Her final requirement before ordination was an open examination from members of the presbytery on her statement of faith and her views on theology, the Bible, the Sacraments and church government.

Prior to her examination before the presbytery, Ms. Marlow answered the following questions asked by the Committee on Preparation for the Ministry:

  1. Will you fulfill your office in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions? She responded in the affirmative.
     
  2. Will you be governed by our church's polity and will you abide by its discipline? Her answer was in the affirmative
     
  3. Having read what the Constitution requires, do you wish to acknowledge any impediment to your ordination or installation? She answered in the negative.

During the examination before presbytery, Ms Marlow agreed to abide by the Presbyterian Church USA Constitution G-6.0106 which includes... "Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and /or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of Word and Sacrament."

Upon her ordination, Ms. Marlow will be transferred to the Presbytery of the Twin Cities, where she will continue her ministry at Macalester College. An ordination date has not been set.

The Presbytery of Milwaukee consists of 50 churches affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in southeastern Wisconsin. The presbytery consists of equal numbers of pastors and lay elders representing the congregations and specialized ministries within the area.

Some blogs worth visiting


Voices of Sophia blog

Heather Reichgott, who has created this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:

After fifteen years of scholarship and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy, students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and thoughtful community.


Witherspoon’s Facebook page

Mitch Trigger, Witherspoon’s Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!

You can post your own news and views, or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you.


John Harris’ Summit to Shore blogspot

Theological and philosophical reflections on everything between summit to shore, including kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology, politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a member of the Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian Church in Flushing, NY.

John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive

A Presbyterian minister, currently serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and lightening up.


Got more blogs to recommend?

Please send a note, and we'll see what we can do!

 

Plan now for ...

GHOST RANCH PEACE & JUSTICE WEEK
July 27 - August 2, 2009

Now's the time to make reservations to be a part of the 2009 Peace & Justice Week at Ghost Ranch, July 27-August 2. There are eight seminars to choose among, including the Witherspoon-sponsored class “New Eyes for Peace & Justice from the World Church” led by Clifton Kirkpatrick.

More
information >>

 

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Check out our report from the Conference
on
Terror, Torture,
and Security

 

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