wfn.org | [PCUSANEWS] Ministry panel discusses 'fidelity/chastity'

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Note #7728 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Ministry panel discusses 'fidelity/chastity' provision
GA03038

Ministry panel discusses 'fidelity/chastity' provision

by Emily Enders Odom

DENVER, May 26 -  "You have only this moment to do the right thing," said
Sylvia Thorson-Smith, an elder from the Presbytery of Des Moines, one of more
than 50 speakers who queued up for open hearings on three items of business,
all related to G-60106.b, at a hearing Monday afternoon of the General
Assembly Church Orders and Ministry Committee.

	Speaking in favor of Overture 03-07, from the Presbytery of Des
Moines, Thorson-Smith said: "Now is 25 years past God's time. Yours is a
lifetime opportunity to say this is the time."

	The measure calls for, among other things, the deletion of G-6.0106b,
the so-called "fidelity and chastity" provision of the Presbyterian Church
(USA) constitution.

	In opposing the overture, the Rev. Thomas Hobson, a commissioner from
the Presbytery of Southeastern Illinois, asserted that "God's bottom line on
sexuality is not openness and inclusiveness." Citing several scriptural
references, he added: "Genesis, Jesus and Paul rule out anything that
violates the enduring, one-flesh union of a man and a woman."

	"That teaching is just as essential as our belief in women's
ordination," he said.

	Speakers who favored the deletion of G-6.0106b far outnumbered those
who defended it. The Rev. Michael D. Smith, of the Presbytery of Des Moines,
the overture advocate for 03-07, noted that he had "never seen in all the
years we've been debating ordination issues the large discrepancy between pro
and con speakers."  Of 37 speakers signed up to speak on overture 03-07, 27
were listed as being in favor.

	The Rev. Jim DiEgidio, general presbyter for San Francisco
Presbytery, who counted himself among those who favored the overture, in fact
recommended a third way.  "You have another option," he said, referring to
the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church. "You
can refer the matter and ask the task force to make the overture part of
their discussion."

	Before and after the open hearings, the committee took action on a
number of overtures, commissioners' resolutions, and requests:

	Commissioners' Resolution 03-20, On Allegations and Transfers, was
approved by a vote of 65-1. It was inspired by the heresy case filed against
the Rev. W. Robert Martin III, whose transfer from the Presbytery of Western
North Carolina to his presbytery of call, the Presbytery of San Jose, was put
on hold, pending a resolution of doctrinal charges against him. The
resolution directs the Office of the General Assembly to study "the problem
of allegations, not involving misconduct or personal injury, which interrupt
processes of transfers already initiated by governing bodies." 

	Gibson said her concern was with future cases, that the "crack that
this pastor has fallen through not happen to anyone in future."

	Commissioners' Resolution 03-13, On the Integrity of the Call
Process, passed unanimously. The resolution calls for the General Assembly
Council, through its Churchwide Personnel Services Department, in
consultation with the Office of the General Assembly, to complete a study of
churches utilizing co-pastoral ministry models. The aim of the measure is to
ensure that the office of co-pastor not be used to circumvent the normal
interim-call and pastoral-call processes.

	Nearly two hours of debate eventually yielded a decision on Overture
03-06 from the Presbytery of Hudson River in New York. By a vote of 51 to 13,
with one abstention, the committee decided to approve the overture on
administrative leave in cases of alleged sexual misconduct involving a minor.
  

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