When honesty
doesn't pay in the PC(USA) ...
[4-19-04]
The Committee on Preparation for
Ministry of the Presbytery of San Francisco recently voted by 15 to 5 not to
certify Lisa Larges as a candidate for ordination pending a call.
In her meeting with the committee Lisa was
asked explicitly whether the long-term committed and covenantal relationship
in which she is living "is sexual." She answered with integrity and honesty,
affirming once again that her partnership "is a marriage in every sense of
that word, before God." [Click here for her full statement to the
committee.]
The majority of committee members
apparently felt they were compelled by the Presbyterian Book of Order to
deny her certification.
In response to this latest denial of
ordination to one of our church's many gifted and dedicated lgbt members who
believe that God is calling them to ministry, the Executive Committee of the
Witherspoon Society offers this comment:
We'd appreciate your comments
on our statement (just below)
or on this situation in general.
Just send a note
and we'll share comments here.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When honesty and integrity are too hard to tolerate ...
what does that say about our church?
It's a sad time when honesty doesn't pay in
the PC(USA). We are deeply saddened when amazing gifts are wasted. We are
offended when the gifts of candidates like Lisa Larges are not joyously
welcomed.
Once again -- if we need more evidence --
the workings of the Presbyterian Church have shown the profound harm brought
to our church by G6.0106b and its uneven application.
What poor stewardship we show when God's
exceptional gifts to Lisa Larges are refused by our church. Why? Because she
is honest. Honest about who she is. Honest about the committed, loving
relationship in which she lives.
We see neat abstractions of "doctrine" and
"morality" being used in ways that cause real pain for real human beings.
We are saddened that many people of good
will in our church feel forced to reject a person whom they have every
reason to respect and value, because of an unjust rule that now establishes
unwelcoming policies and practices
in our church.
We affirm and respect the courage and integrity of lgbt
people who seek ordination, in whatever way they are led by God.
Once again we see that G-6.0106b, the "fidelity and
chastity" clause in our constitution, must be removed if our church
is to reflect the eternally open, welcoming grace of God.
We know that Christ's life and teachings call us to live
in the Spirit of love, not constricted by demands for a ritual purity that
closes hearts rather than opens them. It is past
time for G-6.0106b to go.
And so we urge our members, and all those in the
Presbyterian Church (USA) who would follow the radically loving Christ, to
renew and support all efforts to bring new love and new light into our lives
as a community of faith, and into our wider society.
The Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society
April 19, 2004
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lisa Larges' statement
to the Committee on Preparation for Ministry, Presbytery of San Francisco
These are the vows that Angie and I exchanged at our
wedding on December 4th, 1999. I share these with you first
because they most fundamentally define what for us constitutes our marriage.
I promised Angie to: love, honor, and cherish her forever;
to share all things with her, both joy and sorrow; to create with her a home
that is safe and welcoming; to nurture her spirit and being; and together
with her to love and serve God. I promised these things in the presence of
our witnesses, and before God.
Living out these vows includes sharing our joys and
sorrows, growing in faith together through prayer, and service, sharing
financial responsibilities, being good stewards of our resources, creating a
welcoming home, loving our families and friends, bearing each others
burdens, listening to one another, working things out, caring for and taking
care of one another in sickness and times of trouble, challenging one
another, making life decisions together, and sharing emotional, spiritual
and sexual intimacy. All of these represent parts of our marriage but
together or singly do not wholly define it.
I will not deny the fullness of our marriage including all
forms of appropriate intimacy. At the same time I will not submit to
focusing on the sexual nature of our marriage apart from all the other
necessary parts of our relationship. To do so denigrates our marriage, and
erodes the covenantal relationship that you and I have as committee and
candidate. I believe that my marriage to Angie enriches and expands my
capacity to love and serve the Church and I am blessed to have her love and
support in following God's call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Earlier reports and comments about the
CPM denial of certification to Lisa are found on
another page, including a statement from
That All May Freely Serve, and a comment by
Ray Bagnuolo.
More Light Presbyterians
has (have??) also issued a statement.
We'd appreciate your comments
on our statement (above)
or on this situation in general.
Just send a note
and we'll share comments here.
