Summer 2003

Dear Friends:

The 215^th General Assembly proved to be another disappointing attempt to open the doors for the ordination of gays, lesbians, bisexual, and transgendered candidates in the Presbyterian Church (USA). This action exemplifies how our denomination does not live out the theme of this years assembly: A House of Prayer for All People.

Working to remove G- 6.0106b from the Book of Order bears witness to the faithful call of a community that embraces all of God's children. Part of this call is to take the initiative to know and listen to gays, lesbians, bisexual, transgendered persons and their families in our congregations. Our denomination has consistently supported the civil rights and the full worth and dignity of GLBT persons and their families. The church has an obligation to provide pastoral support and care to this community of persons who face discrimination, violence and oppression both outside of and inside the church.

I had the honor of participating with others who drafted the motion in response to Overture 03-23 from Greater Atlanta, on the Mission Coordination and Budget Committee. The motion from the committee reached the assembly floor, was amended slightly, and then supported by the body. The motion reads as follows:

Overture 03-23. On Appointing a Pastoral Group Whose Primary Concern Would be Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Members and Their Families in Our Local Churches.

From the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta.

In response to this overture, that the 215th General Assembly (2003) approved the following recommendations:

1. Encourage presbyteries to equip pastors and sessions to provide pastoral care and nurture to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered members and their families.

2. Encourage presbyteries, sessions, and pastors to seek out pastoral care resources presently available in their own communities for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered members and their families.

3. Request the Congregational Ministries Division to:

a. Identify and post on the appropriate pages of the Congregational Ministries Division Web site existing resources and models consistent with current General Assembly policies to assist presbyteries, pastors, and sessions in their pastoral ministries to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered members and their families; and

b. Recommend to the next General Assembly the production of additional resources if the Congregational Ministries Division determines a need for such resources.

The reason I am bringing this to your attention is because I see the potential this overture has to provide accountability in our denomination for the pastoral care concerns of the GLBT community and their families. Currently the resources available on the website (www.pcusa.org/overture2000-38) are inadequate and lack a great deal of theological and pastoral relevance. In fact, some of these resources listed support perspectives that seek to degrade the integrity of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons.

I believe now is the time, and we cannot wait, to hold our denomination accountable for being a House of Prayer for All People. If G- 6.0106b is going to be removed from the Book of Order, we need to continue our work at the congregation and presbytery level reinforcing the inclusivity of God's love. In response to Overture 03-23 I urge organizations, congregations, and individuals to take the following action:

a. is easy to locate;

b. and contains material that embraces the dignity and worth of GLBT people in their self-affirmed and celebrated GLBT identity.

We all must stand with our sisters and brothers in the struggle for justice in our church. The work of the General Assembly does not stop when the meetings are over. We must continue our conversations and work to shape a church that is welcoming of all of God's children. Our voices are weary after many years of conflict and litigation, but a window has been opened with the passing of Overture 03-23. We are being called to seek the development of resources that will hopefully provide conditions in the church that will enable Presbyterians to acknowledge and accept differing interpretations of ordination standards.

This is a call that seeks a sense of care that we must create for ourselves, the church, and our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered brothers and sisters. An environment of truth and openness will not form itself, but needs to be fostered by our efforts to make it happen.

Peace

Melissa Lynn DeRosia
1044 Alta Vista Louisville, Kentucky 40205
email: ana_logos@yahoo.com

" i found God in myself… and i loved her fiercely"
-Ntozake Shange