wfn.org | Committee Approves Resolution Seeking Study of Same-Sex Benefits

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

GA99053 
24-June-1999 
 
                  Committee Approves Resolution  
               Seeking Study of Same-Sex Benefits  
 
FORT WORTH   A General Assembly Committee narrowly approved an overture 
Tuesday calling for the General Assembly to instruct the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.) Board of Pensions (BOP) to conduct a feasibility study on 
providing lay church employees in same-sex relationships with the same 
employment benefits as married couples. 
        After much debate and testimony during public hearings Monday 
night, the overture sponsored by the Presbytery of Twin Cities passed 
yesterday by a vote of 20-15, with five committee members abstaining. 
     But the measure, which was amended to exclude the partners of clergy, 
still must travel the potentially bumpy road of the floor of the 211th 
General Assembly. The overture was set for debate Wednesday night at 7:30. 
     Despite that, proponents described the Committee's approval as at 
least a small victory for homosexual civil rights in the PC(USA), even if 
the overture dies at the hands of Assembly commissioners. 
     "Every little victory is a victory," said James D. Anderson, a member 
of the More Light Presbyterians, the newly-named union of the former 
Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns with the former More Light 
Churches Network. "It's going to be very interesting to see what they do. I 
think it's great. If they actually do it, it's a big step forward when they 
actually implement it." 
     The overture, which specifies same-sex lay employees in "long-term 
committed relationships," was amended to exclude such relationships 
involving ordained clergy. The change came after a member of the overture's 
sponsoring presbytery suggested the move to avert a conflict with PC(USA)'s 
long-standing policy against ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians.   
     "In the open hearing a number of people suggested to me that this 
overture was really about ordination standards and (if) the Board of 
Pensions were to do what this asks it would be in violation of the 
ordination standards," said Dick Lundy, an advocate for the ordination of 
gays through the More Light Presbyterians. "That's not my intention, that's 
not the intention of the overture so this amendment makes it clear that 
we're talking about lay employees who (would be) covered by the plan. That 
is, we're not talking about folks who are ordained, we're talking about lay 
employees of the church." 
     The overture's fairly close approval margin is an indication that 
people still remain divided when considering issues surrounding 
homosexuality, according to the man heading the committee.  
     "It shows the tension we still live under," said David Lambertson of 
Central Washington Presbytery. "When a vote is like this we still have not 
come to a consensus yet." 
     Another Committee member asked who would define the definition of a 
long-term committed relationship.   
     Pointing to benefits provided to employees involved in same-sex 
relationships by corporations such as Walt Disney, Jayne Ruiz of Central 
Florida Presbytery urged the Committee to approve the measure. 
     "With my background in health-care with Hospice...I don't believe in 
punishing people ...  for their lifestyle," she said. 
     In other action, the Committee: 
     *   approved amending commissioner's resolution 99-6, which recommends 
the   Assembly not stop a business venture between the Presbyterian 
Publishing Corporation (PPC) and the Presbyterian Lay Committee called the 
Presbyterian Pipeline. The change adds the Lay Committee as one of the 
entities to be involved in discussions between PPC and the General Assembly 
Council or "its successor" on the "negative effect of the Lay Committee ... 
on the mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)." 
      *  Confirmed Robert W. Maggs, Jr., a veteran banking executive and 
attorney, as president of the Board of Pensions. Maggs was elected as 
president at a special meeting of the board in Long Beach, Calif., May 21. 
If confirmed by the Assembly, he will begin his work at the Board of 
Pensions offices in Philadelphia on July 6. 
 
Evan Silverstein 

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