Posted on 1-15-03

The comments are posted in the order in which we have received them.

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Kate Van Brocklin, a student at Union Seminary/PSCE, sends this response to our report:

As a seminarian prayerfully considering whether to seek ordination in this denomination or not, I have to say my heart is heavy after hearing of the events in the Twin Cities Area presbytery.

It's painful as I recall that just a couple of months ago, I attended the Covenant Network conference in Minneapolis with a renewed hope that we can work together as a church to become who it is we were created to be - only to hear now that Tim [Hart-Andersen's] proposed motion, which he claims to be in the best interest of the GLBT community, was passed.

I feel it is an inaccurate portrayal of the motion to claim that it was for the good of our GLBT sisters and brothers in faith. The reason I know it is not the will of the GLBT community, is because I have asked them. I feel that the defeat of this motion is in the interest of the current Covenant Network strategy focusing on the unity of the church and interpretation of the Book of Order. There are members of the GLBT community who affirm this strategy and there are many who are strongly against it. However, one more time, action has been taken to exclude the GLBT community from leadership in their church in order to challenge this issue before the church in a legalistic manner.

Obviously Covenant Network believes their strategy is the one that will "win." I fear they may be the only ones left to be a part of that celebration.

Being an ally to an oppressed and marginalized community means listening to their thoughts and desires and empowering them to bring about change. If true change is to take place, persons of privilege must stop ignoring the wishes of the very persons they claim to be helping.

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This comment comes from Brian Wells, an elder at First and Franklin Street Church Baltimore, MD

I'm finally able to be angry and disgusted, yet at the same time heartened by some of the comments I've seen since then. There may be a growing realization that we must consider CovNet [Covenant Network] simply another faction that must be strategized - sometimes against - and even manipulated, but most certainly no longer considered a natural and constant ally.

That's so sad, but we may need to see this as one of those things that my partner and I refer to as "happy / sad" things with our son. As he grows up, our 8 year old will someday soon tell me that he no longer needs his dad to sing him nighttime lullabies. When that happens, I will be sad and this loss but take comfort that he's ready to move to another level of maturity.

We may have reached one of those "happy/sad" times in our movement. I have taken such great comfort - I now realize far too much comfort - from the support of our supportive straight allies, particularly those in CovNet. Now we must see CovNet's support for its paternalism and the relatively safe position from which they operate. I am still happy for their past support and expect we can still find occasions where our interests coincide. I no longer find their supportive lullaby sufficient, however, to offset the "we know what's best" words that go with it.

It's time for us to grow up and to make CovNet understand that - in as much as they think it appropriate to protect GLBT people from themselves - they are wrong.

Brian

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Dear Doug,

I am sorry that you feel betrayed by your allies and I fear that I will say nothing to you to ease that pain. If I had been a voting member of your presbytery, I would also have voted no action.

Let me explain.

I was a minister member to the 213th GA where we made that unbelievably faithful attempt to rid ourselves of a thorn in our side - B. I served on committee 6 and found untapped reserves to bring the motion to the floor. I could do it because IT WAS TIME. It was GOD'S time. I will go to my grave believing that what we did in Louisville had the fingerprints of the Spirit all over it.

I am not so sure that we can make that time happen again without listening carefully for the Spirit's leading. This is not an excuse to sit back and give up - by no means! It is a time to listen, listen, listen. To let the anti inclusion forces hoist themselves on their own petards as they argue for obedience to a policy that is impossible to uphold. To allow the large middle of the church to make that tidal change and swell the ranks of voices calling for B's eventual defeat. To challenge the fear mongering from the "other side" and walk in a way that claims and rejoices in God's peace for all people.

God's time isn't our time and it is hard to ask people to continue to wait but wait we must or we run the risk of sacrificing all. MLK Jr. died not seeing what his actions brought about - and, truth be told, I wonder sometimes just how far we've come - but I believe that the mountain top is within reach! Maybe, just maybe, now is the time to sit in our tents at base camp and plan our ascension while the winds howl outside. Eventually, they'll blow themselves out.

I am not happy to write this, but you did want to hear from others and I hope that you will receive my response in the Spirit in which it is offered.

Your sister in Christ and in the struggle,

Molly Douthett
Miami (OH) Presbytery

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Dear Mr King,

I followed a link from the http://www.layman.org/ website to the Witherspoon site and your article re Lesbigay matters.

I am an Australian and so it really is none of my business, but then I am a Presbyterian and like my fellow ministers here in Australia, I do care about fidelity to the Word of God. I'm sure you know all the Scripture texts (Genesis 1:27,28, 2:24; Lev 18:22, 20:13; Romans 2, etc). Do you ever wonder that you might be held personally accountable one day by God for condoning homosexual activity and even encouraging others in such a lifestyle? Sometimes the greatest act of love is actually to say to a person, "you shouldn't be doing that, you are harming yourself, you are disobeying God's express command, but in Christ there is forgiveness and power for living in God honouring ways, and we as a Church want to help you in this".

More power to the Confessing Church movement in the PCUSA!

Rev DJ Palmer
a minister in the Presbyterian Church of Australia

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Added on 1-16-03

Dear Mr. King,

I did not expect to send you a note agreeing with the Witherspoon Society on anything, but for what it's worth I think you are right that there should have been an up-or-down vote on G-6.0106b at the Twin Cities Presbytery meeting. It is either correct to keep this provision, or it is correct to remove it. G-6.0106b is a very important question to both sides of the PC(USA), and it should not be put aside with a "no action" vote. The Covenant Network considers G-6.0106b to be a grave injustice ... so why would they not try to remove it now rather than later? The position of the Witherspoon Society is at least more internally consistent, albeit a position I disagree with.

Sincerely,

John Erthein
Pastor, Elderton Presbyterian Church
Elderton, PA

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