Click here for items on sexual justice in 2010.

Items on sexual justice from past years are archived:

The gay marriage amendment has been defeated ... again. The US House has voted decisively to reject a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. Conservative Christians vow to continue fighting; progressives are heartened that a sense of fairness has prevailed.

Equal Partners in Faith urges progressive groups to take action

[Press release from Equal Partners in Faith, dated 9-17-04. Posted here 9-21-04]

The Federal Marriage Amendment, defeated in the Senate in July, is now on the docket for the House of Representatives. This bill seeks to enshrine discrimination into the U.S. Constitution. It will probably get more traction in the House than in the Senate. That is why EPF urges progressive people of faith to contact their representatives in the House and ask them not to support or endorse the Federal Marriage Amendment.

The stakes are very high. Equal Partners in Faith believes in "Equal Justice for Equal Souls" and the FMA eviscerates equality at the highest level of American Law. Please call your Congressperson and tell them that you and your organization strongly opposes passage of the Federal Amendment.

Click here to gain more information on this topic and what you can do.

[9-16-04]

Central City Lutheran Mission, in San Bernardino, CA, describes itself as "a cutting edge ministry which assumes both delivery of a wide variety of social services and development of a Word and Sacrament ministry." Their simple style focuses on neighborhood leadership in a multilingual ministry, "where the poor and oppressed become subject in a pastoral project for neighborhood transformation and are not simply the objects of the church's charity or social services."

The Mission recently called the Rev. Dr. Jenny Mason as an Associate Pastor. Mason was ordained in 1991, served for ten years in urban ministry in Chile, and has already been serving for some months on the CCLM staff. While the Lutheran Church (ELCA) exercises considerable latitude in matters of ordination and sexuality, this call has been challenged and is now under review by a special committee, and some economic sanctions have already been imposed on the Mission.

Covenant Network offers new documentary, Turning Points: Stories of Life and Change in the Church

Turning Points: Stories of Life and Change in the Church is a documentary about Presbyterians struggling with the denomination's current ordination standards. This hour-long, four-part story with a study guide is suitable for use in adult education classes, pre-presbytery workshops, session meetings -- wherever the church gathers for study and discernment of God's call to the church today.

Each section focuses on a particular story and is surrounded by thoughtful, Reformed theological comment. Groups may choose to view the whole video at once or choose which segments are most useful for their needs. Biblical scholars and theologians including Walter Brueggemann and Beverly Gaventa provide commentary and interpretation.

Turning Points opens with the poignant visit of Susie Smith, now a minister in the United Church of Christ, to her former Presbyterian congregation in South Carolina. Congregation members speak to the camera and to Susie about how their lives were changed by her presence and her departure. The choice between one's son and one's church is the focus of the Calhoun family's story in the second segment. The third story recounts a tragic moment of misunderstanding in the life of a young minister and a daring act of reconciliation twenty years later. The fourth segment considers how a thriving congregation in the Midwest welcomes and includes gay and lesbian members.

This video was designed to be viewed by those who are still trying to discern the role God calls those who are Christian and gay or lesbian to take in Christ's church. Christians of all theological viewpoints are invited to watch and discuss this thought-provoking documentary together.

For more information and an order form, go to

John Shuck, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Billings, MT, recently sent this note:

On August 7th history was made at the First Presbyterian Church in Billings, Montana. In the sanctuary, before a congregation of about 150, two members of our congregation celebrated their 15th anniversary during a commitment ceremony. I am proud of our congregation for going through the dialogue and education process to approve this ceremony and especially to my friends, Mike and Tony, for their courageous witness to live open loving and celebratory lives.

Click here for an article that appeared in the Billings Gazette the same day.

Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches, told delegates to the alliance's general council meeting in Accra, Ghana, that while members have different views of homosexuality, all Christians can agree that it is wrong to violate human rights because of sexual orientation.

Stories from the World Alliance of Reformed Churches about the 24th General Council may be found on the WARC Website.

Clergy of all faiths are being urged to sign on to a letter to senators, expressing opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment, which will likely come up for a vote in the US Senate next week.  Senators are being pressed hard by the religious right, and other voices need to be heard.

This appeal comes from The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, but is clearly open to all faiths.

Click here for background, the text of the letter, and a sign-on page.

Eugene Rogers, writing in The Christian Century, argues from within the tradition of the Orthodox Church that marriage "is not primarily for the control of lust or for procreation. It is a discipline whereby we give ourselves to another for the sake of growing in holiness--for, more precisely, the sake of God." And, he argues, if God's creative action is a clear affirmation of diversity [think mosquitoes and giraffes!] then diversity of sexual and familial relationships should also be affirmed and sanctified in marriage.

A Place Called Justice, From the Heartland to the Horizon   [6-1-04]

MLP staffer Michael Adee reports on National Conference of More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and Shower of Stoles Project, held May 20-23 in Kansas City, Missouri  

You'll find links to some of the sermons preached during the conference, and more.

Reverses presbytery in Van Kuiken case   [5-7-04]

On April 30, 2004, the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Covenant (Ohio and Michigan) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled that the Constitution does not prohibit same-sex marriages and that "the decision of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Cincinnati is reversed and the rebuke of Rev. Van Kuiken is removed."

Presbyterian pastor Thomas Davis explores in a sermon the complexities of human sexuality, and invites his congregation to see the richness of God's creation as encompassing far more than just "male or female," far more even the "GLBT."

"The separation between Christians on these issues of gender difference chiefly comes down to how complicated we think God's creation is. The main conflict isn't so much about how to interpret the Bible; it's much more about what is the nature of nature? Those who have little tolerance for complication and ambiguity keep insisting that all these allegedly unusual but nevertheless natural distinctions are not natural at all."

Michael J. Adee, National Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians, has sent a reminder of the fast-approaching conference, with the theme "From the Heartland to the Horizon." This first-ever Welcoming Presbyterians' National Conference is sponsored by More Light Presbyterians, That All May Freely Serve, and The Shower of Stoles Project.

Vanderbilt conference offers a critical examination of "reparative therapy"

Gene TeSelle, Witherspoon Issues Analyst, reports on a conference held at Vanderbilt University on February 7, 2004, in which a variety of scholars took a serious and critical look at the claims of "reparative" or "restorative" therapies to change the orientations of people who are gay or lesbian.   [2-14-04]

The Rev. Steve Van Kuiken will go to trial this week (Feb. 5 and 6) before the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Covenant in Maumee, OH, just south of Toledo. Van Kuiken has brought an action against the Presbytery of Cincinnati seeking to retain his ordination following the presbytery’s action last June.

Over a month ago we received a thoughtful note from ruling elder Eric Muñiz, putting forth some basic arguments against the views of Prof. Douglas Ottati in his theological reflections on "why we shouldn't wait."

In the rush of the holiday season, we lost track of his note.  He recently sent a very gentle question about where his comments had gone.  Well, the lost is found, and we offer his thoughts now ... at last ... with our apologies for the delay.  

Focus and the Family will be holding a "Love Won Out conference" in Nashville, TN, on February 7^th. The same day there will be a conference at Vanderbilt University will sponsor at conference under the theme ''Psychology, Religion and Homosexuality: Critical Responses to Reparative Therapy.''

The Nashville Tennessean reports on the competing events.

Click here for a summary of the case as it stood in June, 2003.

If you have comments or information to add,
please send us a note!

The Administrative Commission that was appointed by the Presbytery of Cincinnati in May, 2002, will report to the Presbytery at its meeting on Saturday, January 10, on its recommendations for responding to the actions of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church that have been alleged as defying the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church, specifically in relation to the ordination of GLBT people and the blessing of same-sex unions.

Perhaps the most creative element of their recommendations has led them to propose an overture to the 215^th General Assembly that would be needed to make it possible. This would establish the category of a "provisional status" for a congregation such as Mt. Auburn, which it describes as "an intentional, consistent, and conscientious objector to certain responsibilities in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church." It would require a two-thirds vote of the presbytery to place the congregation in this status.

Under this provisional status, the presbytery would hold conversations with the congregation to explain the reasons for the action, and to hear comments from the members. During the two-year period, the congregation "would lose voting privileges, but would continue to have voice in presbytery matters."

The commission also recommends that the Presbytery "establish and facilitate a Presbytery-wide "Year of Exchange" during which delegations from congregations within our Presbytery would visit one another, share their varying points of view, arrange pulpit exchanges, and form collaborative prayer groups and mission projects."

The final recommendation would "establish a three-year moratorium whereby member churches of the Presbytery voluntarily comply to refrain from legal or procedural challenges to one another in issues related to inclusiveness, with reference to the Book of Order Section G-6.0106b."

The full text of the Commission report, and the proposed overture are available on the Presbytery website, in PDF format. Click here, and scroll down to the bottom of the page for the links to each of them.

"GAY MARRIAGE" (more precisely, "GLBT MARRIAGE") OR "CIVIL UNIONS"    [12-29-03]

"America's Poll on Homosexual Marriage," posted and reported by the American Family Association, continues to grow in its number of responses, with almost 60% favoring the legalization of same-sex marriage, and another 8% supporting civil unions.

All this is being reported by one of the leading organizations working to defend the "traditional family."

The details, as of Monday, December 29:

To be sure, a recent poll by the New York Times and CBS News finds that 55% of Americans
favor a Constitutional amendment banning homosexual marriage.

This is archived on the NYTimes website (so it'll cost you a bit to see the full article).

It is also posted in full (and free) by "The Daily Camera."

It is probably more accurate statistically than the AFA poll, but given the anti-gay values reflected in that organization, the results are surprising and interesting.

Just yesterday we announced a "poll on homosexual marriage" being taken by the American Family Association, which "represents and stands for traditional family values."

We encouraged anyone who wanted to add a bit of diversity to the poll to register their own opinions on the AFA website.

As of mid-day on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, they report these results:

I oppose legalization of homosexual marriage and "civil unions"
38.78%      (164946 votes)

I favor legalization of homosexual marriage
52.88%     (224886 votes)

I favor a "civil union" with the full benefits of marriage except for the name
8.34%      (35466 votes)

You can check their latest reports, and add your own vote, at http://www.afa.net/petitions/marriagepoll.asp

Dr. Douglas Ottati writes a regular column of "Theological Musings" for Witherspoon's Network News. In his new column, in the current issue, he considers the reasons why "we shouldn't wait to ordain called and qualified gays and lesbians to all offices of the church, and to endorse same sex unions and / or gay marriages between persons committed to a loving relationship of mutual help and care."

Some affirm "gay marriage" as a very good and sensible thing 
[11-26-03]

In the wake of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision that a ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional, there have been cries of alarm from those who feel that the whole institution of marriage is threatened. And so some kind of "defense of marriage" act or amendment is called for to rescue us all.

This little tidbit has been floating around for some time, but someone just sent it to your WebWeaver again, and he wants to be sure you haven't missed it.

"The actions taken by the New Hampshire Episcopalians are an affront to Christians everywhere. I am just thankful that the church's founder, Henry VIII, and his wife Catherine of Aragon, his wife Anne Boleyn, his wife Jane Seymour, his wife Anne of Cleves, his wife Katherine Howard, and his wife Catherine Parr are no longer here to suffer through this assault on our traditional Christian marriage. "

-Source Unknown

Are you looking for a clear, simple, scholarly statement of how the Bible might inform the church's thinking about homosexuality? If not for yourself, maybe to share with someone else?

One of the earliest - and perhaps one of the best - was published first in 1979, and then in a revised edition in 1996, by Walter Wink, Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City.

He is a United Methodist minister, works for a Presbyterian seminary, and attends Quaker meeting. For five years he served as pastor of a church in southeast Texas.

You can find the full text of the booklet online, or order print copies through the website of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (at $1.35 each), and we recommend it.   [Updated 1-3-05, thanks to Jeff Renner, Ann Arbor, Michigan]

That All May Freely Serve reports that at its meeting on September 23, the Presbytery of Hudson River accepted the recommendation of its Investigating Committee that no action be taken against Joseph GIlmore and Susan DeGeorge, ministers of South Presbyterian Church, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Paul Rolf Jensen had filed a complaint against them for conducting same-sex marriages and ordaining lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people as deacons and elders.

For background, see our earlier report.

The Rev. Donald Stroud, Minister of Outreach and Reconciliation for That All May Freely Serve in Baltimore, has prepared a very helpful introduction for people who want to prepare overtures to the General Assembly, or concurrences with overtures already submitted. 

The Executive Committee of the Witherspoon Society has just approved a statement of our policy on issues of justice, inclusiveness, and ordination.

Three leaders of South Church, Dobbs Ferry (NY) are meeting with the Investigating Committee of the Presbytery of Hudson River, NY to respond to charges put into motion by Paul Rolf Jensen.

Ray Bagnuolo reports that Dana Lichty, Clerk of Session; Joe Gilmore, Senior Minister; and Susan DeGeorge, Minister of South Church, will be at the meeting, set for 1 PM in Pleasantville, NY.

In brief, the charges claim that Gilmore and DeGeorge have violated their ordination vows by conducting holy unions that were "in every important way" the same as marriage; and that they have ordained LGBT persons to the office of deacon and elder.

The initial hearing, scheduled for August, was postponed to give Mr. Jensen an opportunity to appear before the committee, prior to their questioning of the three church leaders. Mr. Jensen scheduled an appointment, but did not appear at the meeting. Jensen is not required to personally present his charges, but he did make the appointment and said he would be there. His not showing up has no impact on the charges; however it does speak to other questions about his actions.

Bagnuolo concludes: "Please keep Susan, Dana, and Joe in your prayers, as they exert their courage and leadership in our struggle for full inclusion of the Body of Christ in the PC(USA)."

The website of That All May Freely Serve will be providing updates on the case, and we will do the same right here. www.tamfs.org

Alan Simpson, a former Republican senator from Wyoming and honorary chairman of the Republican Unity Coalition, a gay-straight alliance of Republican leaders, says the push by conservatives to advance a constitutional amendment defining marriage is a betrayal of their own party's principles.

He declares:

As someone who is basically a conservative, I see not an argument about banning marriage or "defending" families but rather a power grab. Conservatives argue vehemently about federal usurpation of other issues best left to the states, such as abortion or gun control. Why would they elevate this one to the federal level?

[9-3-03]

Writing for the Newsweek website, Martha Brant notes that "While politicians furiously debate gay rights, Corporate America is moving ahead" in areas such as nondiscrimination policies and same-sex partner benefits.

Rosemary Radford Ruether, Carpenter Professor of Feminist Theology at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, calls for a new sexual ethic that contrasts radically with the neo-Puritan ethic being demanded by President Bush - even in Africa, where it will harm rather than help efforts to combat the rising incidence of AIDS.

What's needed, she says, is not merely sexual freedom, but an end to "sexual illiteracy," which can come only by replacing the still-current "male ethic of sexual exploitation" with a truly egalitarian sexual ethic, which allows learning through experience - but experience in stages of growing maturity and responsibility.

Made in God's Image: A Resource for Dialogue about the Church and Gender Differences is a groundbreaking educational booklet combining valuable information, personal sharing, and resources. A perfect starting place for any congregation, family, or individual.

Ann Thompson Cook writes not only from her considerable knowledge, but also from her heart. Made in God's Image is an exceptional resource for people of faith who want to open their own hearts to a wider discussion of gender issues. -- The Reverend Erin K. Swenson, Southern Association for Gender Education

For more information, or to order on-line, go to www.madeinimage.org. 24 pages. $5.95 each, $3.50 each for orders of ten or more. Published by Dumbarton United Methodist Church and co-distributed by the Reconciling Ministries Network.

Opponents of inclusive ordination often claim that "nobody does it," so Presbyterians shouldn't either. To be sure, many churches around the world refuse to ordain people for a variety of reasons - like because they're women or something. And more refuse to ordain those who are openly gay or lesbian.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, deviating slightly from his own Presbyterian Church teachings, has recently affirmed that marriage is "a sacrament," and that its sacred status justifies the proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as a relationship between one man and one woman. (So take that, you wild-eyed liberals on the Supreme Court!)

Karen Armstrong, well-known author of A History of God, recently published an essay in The Guardian arguing that Christians have "always had a bleaker view of love - gay or straight - than any other faith." In her essay she touches also (briefly and clearly!) on many of the Biblical texts usually advanced to condemn same-sex relationships.

The Associated Press reports that the Supreme Court has just struck down a ban on gay sex, ruling that the law was an unconstitutional violation of privacy. The 6-3 ruling reverses course from a ruling 17 years ago that states could punish homosexuals for what such laws historically called deviant sex.

The AP says, "The case is a major reexamination of the rights and acceptance of gay people in the United States. More broadly, it also tests a state's ability to classify as a crime what goes on behind the closed bedroom doors of consenting adults."

Additional reports:

The Human Rights Campaign offers an Associated Press report giving more details on the decision.

Here's the HRC's own press release on the decision.

Here are links to the full texts of the Supreme Court opinions:

The Presbyterian Washington Office provides the text of a statement by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, plus a very helpful listing of past General Assembly statements on civil rights for lgbt persons.

For updates on the trial you can check these websites:

"Upholding Our Ordination Vows as We Seek an Inclusive Church"     [3-18-03]

The board of directors of That All May Freely Serve - Michigan has endorsed and commended for consideration by all Presbyterians an affirmation called: Upholding Our Ordination Vows as We Seek an Inclusive Church.

Sexual orientation alone is no disqualification, PJC rules 
[3-5-03]

Click here for the full text of the GA PJC decision.

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission has ruled on two recent appeals relating to LGBT concerns.

The Rev. Katie Morrison was ordained by the Presbytery of the Redwoods. The Presbytery of San Joaquin issued a complaint again her ordination on the grounds that she is a self-acknowledged lesbian, even though no matters of conduct were at issue. The Synod PJC dismissed the complaint, and the General Assembly PJC upheld that action. So Katie Morrison's ordination has been upheld.

The Presbytery of Cincinnati filed charges against the Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken on Feb. 10, alleging two violations of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Constitution. This is the first of more than 20 cases filed by attorney Paul Jensen that has made it to trial.  The Layman Online carries the first report we've seen.

The first charge against Van Kuiken, who is pastor of the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, is that he has participated in the ordination and installation of deacons and elders who are in violation of section G-60106(b) of the Book of Order.

The second charge is that he has "performed and/or condoned and facilitated the performance by others of same-sex marriage ceremonies at the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church."

And they'll provide housing and local transportation for guests at the March event!
[1-14-03]

We've just received this very interesting invitation:

A group of us at St. Andrew's in Austin, TX, have been involved since last October in a study of "From Violence to Wholeness" published by our wonderful friends at Pace e Bene. I have been in conversation with some folks there since last November and we have tentatively set up some dates in March to address non-violent resistance in GLBT issues. They do a two day workshop on this topic as a way to help prepare folks to use non-violent resistance tactics in our struggle for justice.

We want to give an opportunity for our sisters and brothers throughout our nation to join in this training. Therefore we will attempt to offer housing and transportation to and from the airport to anyone interested in attending. The cost of the two day workshop will be $80.00 to cover the expenses of our trainers from San Francisco coming to lead the workshop. You may need money for some meals, or if we do meals in conjunction with the workshop there would be a small additional charge to cover expenses there too.

We have tentatively picked March 1-2 and March 8-9 to give folks choices in week-ends to attend. Registration will be limited to about 20 people for each workshop.

If you are interested, you can contact me at babsmiller@austin.rr.com . For those who don't know, I am the new part-time Minister of Reconciliation for That All May Freely Serve Texas, Mission and Grace Presbyteries.

Click here for items on sexual justice in 2010.

Items on sexual justice from past years are archived: