wfn.org | Press conference offers reactions from two sides to ordination

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

Note #6713 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

action
15-June-2001
GA01153

Press conference offers reactions from two sides to ordination action

by Jane Hines

LOUISVILLE, June 15 - Following the vote by the 213th General Assembly to
send to presbyteries a recommendation to remove G-60106B from the Book of
Order, a press conference was held to get reactions from representatives of
groups involved in of the ordination debate.

First to speak were representatives of Presbyterians for Renewal and the
Presbyterian Coalition, both of which have opposed ordination of gays and
lesbians.

Nancy Maffett, elder commissioner from Colorado Springs, said, "There is a
great weariness in the church.  I feel this will be damaging to the Body and
its unity."

Matt Robbins from California, co-moderator of the Youth Advisory Delegates
at this Assembly, said, "I am disappointed with the vote but I am pleased
with the way YADs discussed it.  I think there was too much pressure to make
everyone happy.  I think the decision was brought through our culture.  It's
hard enough to be a young person trying to be faithful to Jesus.  We need
the church to stand up and say there is truth in the Bible."

Joe Rightmyer, executive director of Presbyterians for Renewal, said, "I am
saddened by statements of unbelief in yesterday's debate on salvation
through Jesus Christ.  It was not just a difference of opinion.  The
question is not how we get to God but to reaffirm how God comes to us."

Jerry Andrews, representing the Presbyterian Coalition, said the vote was
not unexpected.  "There will be a better reflection of reality in the
presbytery votes," he added.

Russ Ritchel, Jr., a minister from Salem Presbytery in North Carolina, said
in response to a question about a possible split in the denomination as a
result of the vote, "There already is a split in the church.  It's like
we're in a British comedy where we are all handcuffed together.  We are
handcuffed together by our property.  How can we expect others to take us
seriously when we have not figured out a way to live together and affirm one
another?"
Rightmyer said he had talked to pastors with tears in their eyes who say
they don't know if they can keep their congregations together.  "How many
will still be around to vote in the presbyteries?" he asked.

During the second part of the press conference, representatives of More
Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve and The Shower of Stoles
Project offered a different perspective.  They began with a statement by
Bill Moss, co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians and an openly gay elder
at Old First Presbyterian Church in San Francisco. It said:

"We join together in giving thanks to God for this action of the General
Assembly that paves the way for the ordination of lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender Presbyterians.  Today the church has returned to its historic
principles of allowing local churches and presbyteries to make decisions
about ordination. " The statement expressed gratitude to "everyone who
worked in their local churches, presbyteries and synods...to everyone who
prayed for us, wrote letters, spoke in public, signed covenants of dissent
or otherwise offered a witness to the working of the Spirit."

In a media release, Martha Juillerat, Director of the Shower of Stoles
project, said the decision impacts more lives than the Assembly
commissioners imagine.  The Shower of Stoles Project is a collection of over
800 stoles donated by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals
called to serve in ordained positions.  About half of the stoles are from
Presbyterians.  "The stoles bear powerful silent witness to the host of
impassioned, qualified, and faithful people knocking at the church's door,
or waiting silenced within the church for the day they can serve openly,"
she said.

The group expressed opinions in the press conference about divisions in the
church and who has caused them.  They said they expect to go back to
churches that are "overjoyed" at the decision rather than dismayed.

Responding to a question about which group has the word of God, Don Stroud,
commissioner from Baltimore Presbytery, said, "No one can box up and contain
the Word of God.  A legislative process can never put God in a box."

213th General Assembly Moderator Jack Rogers spoke at the press conference
after the two groups had shared their views with reporters.  "The scriptures
say 'Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.'  I am
rejoicing that this group now has hope and weep with those who sincerely
believe the church has done a wrong thing," he said.

"I have friends in both groups," he said.  "What you've seen with these two
panels is what I've been experiencing as moderator.  As I have looked out at
the commissioners I have come to believe they represent the broad center of
the Presbyterian Church.  I have seen other Assemblies when most
commissioners came pre-set for one position or another.  These are regular
folks who didn't seem to come here pre-committed.  Some said they'd changed
their minds since they came here."

 	"I don't doubt the sincerity of any of them," Rogers said.  "Some believe
they are reading the Bible right and think the others aren't."

 	"This Assembly has affirmed Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour every day. 
The thing that hurts deep in my soul is that almost everybody feels like a
victim in this situation.  I hope in the year to come we can address that. 
There are good people on all sides looking at this differently.  I am
hopeful that the Task Force, listening widely, can begin to address this,"
Rogers said.

_______________________________________________
pcusaNews mailing list
pcusaNews@pcusa.org

To unsubscribe, go to this web address:
http://pcusa01.pcusa.org/mailman/listinfo/pcusanews