wfn.org | PCUSA Committee Recommends Deleting Controversial Law

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

Ga99063 
23-June-1999 
 
 
          Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Committee Recommends  
         Deleting Controversial Law Governing Ordination  
                  Standards for Church Officers 
 
FORT WORTH--By a vote of 24-14, a committee of the 211th General Assembly 
of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted Tuesday night to recommend 
deleting from the denomination's constitution a standard for church 
officers that requires them to live in accordance with the church's 
confessional standards, including either "fidelity within the covenant of 
marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." 
     This section of the church's Book of Order has been the centerpiece of 
an ongoing debate over whether to ordain homosexuals to church office as 
ministers, elders or deacons. 
     The committee's action does not clear the way for ordination of gay 
and lesbian persons to church office.  Before it can take effect, the 
recommendation must be approved by a majority of the 560 voting 
commissioners at the General Assembly and also by a majority of the 
denomination's 173 presbyteries (regional governing bodies), a process that 
would take at least one year. 
     Even if the proposed deletion is ratified by the presbyteries, there 
would still be in effect a General Assembly policy dating back to 1978 that 
prohibits the ordination of "self-affirming, practicing homosexuals." 
     The current provision in the Book of Order was adopted by the 208th 
General Assembly in 1996 and approved by a majority of presbyteries. An 
attempt the following year to amend the language in a way that would soften 
the ordination standards was approved by the 209th General Assembly but 
failed to receive majority approval from the presbyteries. 
     The committee approved their recommendation with two "comments" -- 
formal statements that accompany the proposal to the Assembly.  
     One says that it is the committee's "sincere hope" that presbyteries 
will hold unity and diversity conferences (a measure already approved by 
the committee) throughout the denomination.  The purpose of these 
conferences, patterned on a national conference held last spring, is to 
promote understanding between diverse groups in the denomination and to 
seek common ground. 
     The other reminds the General Assembly of an 1998 authoritative 
interpretation of G-6.0106b that says in part, "...the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) commits itself not to exclude anyone categorically in considering 
those called to ordained service in the church, but to consider the lives 
and behaviors of candidates as individuals." Additionally, the comment 
reminds the Assembly of the fifth "Great End of the Church": the "promotion 
of social righteousness." 
     In a complicated and sometimes confusing process that spanned seven 
hours, committee members debated the motion to delete G-6.0106b and other 
options, including referring all overtures related to ordination standards 
to the church's Office of Theology and Worship. 
       The Rev. Thomas Peters of Newton Presbytery, who earlier had 
attempted but failed to gain the approval of the committee to refer the 
matter, spoke in favor of deleting G-6.0106b.  "Okay, I tried the other 
approach," he told the committee. "That didn't work.  Let's just jump in. 
This motion does say where I am.  People are being denied justice." 
     Connie Weaver, a Theological Seminary Advisory Delegate from Columbia 
Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., spoke against approval "because it 
would show lack of respect for the process and what has been decided 
before" by previous denomination-wide votes.   
     Katie McKean, a Youth Advisory Delegate from Sheppards and Lapsley 
Presbytery said, "Even if this is defeated on the floor of the General 
Assembly, they'll have to consider it.  It will be in their face, and 
that's where it needs to be." 
     Dan Mitchell, an elder commissioner from Huntingdon Presbytery said 
"This will be a very uncomfortable matter to bring before my presbytery." 
     The Rev. Robin White of New Castle Presbytery said, "I see this not as 
a gamble, but as a prophetic voice.  It is a cry for justice." 
     The Rev. Stephen Moss, a minister commissioner from Salem Presbytery 
said he would be writing a minority report and invited others to join him 
in that. 
 
Jerry Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service 
Bill Lancaster, General Assembly Newsroom Staff 

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