The Heartland overture
[1-30-06]
Here is the full text of the first of the overtures being sent to the
General Assembly to "delete B" and provide a new Authoritative
Interpretation that would eliminate earlier official statements condemning
same-sex relationships as a bar to ordination.
For this overture, plus the text of all the concurring
overtures (many with distinctive rationales), go to
the
PC(USA) web site.
Overture 02
On Deleting G-6.0106b, and on Providing a New
Authoritative Interpretation—From the Presbytery of Heartland.
The Presbytery of Heartland respectfully overtures the
217th General Assembly (2006) to do the following:
1. Provide the following authoritative interpretation:
Interpretative statements concerning ordained service of
homosexual church members by the 190th General Assembly (1978) of the United
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the 119th General
Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all
subsequent affirmations thereof, have no further force or effect.
2. Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed
amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:
Shall G-6.0106b be stricken? [Text to be deleted is shown
with a strike-through.]
"b. Those who are called to office in the church
are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the
historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the
requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage
between a man and a woman (W 4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons
refusing to repent of any self acknowledged practice which the confessions
call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or
ministers of the Word and Sacrament."
Rationale
Current denominational policies regarding ordination
contradict the foundational principle of Jesus’ teachings — God is love.
From the early chapters in the Old Testament where we read of Abraham and
Sara inviting three strangers to stay for dinner (Genesis 18) to the
frequent accounts of disciples in the early New Testament churches creating
an environment of welcoming, reconciliation, hospitality, and generosity
(Romans 13 and 14, 1 Corinthians 13, Ephesians 2, Colossians 3, Hebrews 13,
1 John, etc.), the story of our faith is one in which God and God’s people
are instructed to practice love. Jesus himself makes it clear that the
greatest commandment is love of God and that the second is like it: "you
shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22, esp. 22:39). There are no
exceptions to this expectation and yet our ordination policies certainly do
not communicate a message of God’s love.
Current denomination policies regarding ordination
contradict the Great Commission of Christ, who instructed his followers to
go into all the world, making disciples, baptizing and teaching (Matt.
28:16-20). The Scriptures call the church out of itself and direct us to
practice hospitality towards all — even strangers (Hebrews 13), thereby
demonstrating the message of grace and welcome that draws people into the
community of faith. The Apostle Paul points out that "God shows no
partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears [God] and does what is
right is acceptable to [God]" (Acts 10:34-35).
Current denominational policies regarding ordination
contradict Scripture’s teachings about the freedom of God’s Spirit to engage
in surprising, new, and unpredictable activities (John 3). Who of us can say
with absolute certainty precisely what is God’s will with regard to the
leadership of the church? For centuries we used biblical texts as the basis
of our opposition to the ordination of women and inclusion of African
Americans in our congregations. Now we know both practices were sinful
violations of God’s will. Likewise, A Brief Statement of Faith reminds us
that same Spirit "calls women and men to all ministries of the Church" (The
Book of Confessions, 10.4, line 64).
Current denominational policies regarding ordination
contradict the value Scripture places on inclusive welcome (Acts 8:26ff,
10:28 and 11:17). So, too, current ordination policies conflict with
numerous parts of the Book of Order that underscore the church’s call
to openness and inclusiveness (G-3.0401, G-4.0100-.0404) and the rights
granted to members (G-5.0102 and G-5.0103, G-6.0107 and G-6.0108).
Current denominational policies regarding ordination
contradict the church’s understanding of the Sacrament of Baptism. The
Book of Order tells us that in baptism "we die to what separates us from
God." To be consistent with that teaching, we cannot then set up a barrier
(ordination) that separates some of the baptized from their unity with God.
Likewise we are told "baptism is a sign and symbol of inclusion in God’s
grace and covenant" (W-2.3002), and "barriers of race, gender, status, and
age are to be transcended. Barriers of nationality, history, and practice
are to be overcome" (W-2.3005). If we are willing to baptize all believers,
then is it not incumbent upon us to ordain all believers who are called by
God into service?
Current denominational policies regarding ordination
contradict the basic principle of the church that grants all men and women
who are church members the right to respond to God’s call to special
ministries as elders, deacons, or ministers of Word and Sacrament (G
6.0106a). There is only one status or church membership that means one’s
sexual orientation should not be regarded when considering service.
Concurring overtures that include distinctive
rationales have come from the Presbyteries of:
Cascades
Detroit
Genesee Valley
Mid-Kentucky
Western Reserve
Baltimore
East Iowa
Lake Michigan
Newark
Newton
Twin Cities Area
To find any of these,
click
here for the Heartland overture, and scroll down for the others,
in the order listed above.
