RELEASED PRESBYTERIANS

by Lynne Reade, former Elder

[1-26-06]

Too many Presbyterians are leaving the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) because our denomination has in recent years denied ordination to them or their friends solely for sexual reasons. They leave for more welcoming and hospitable Christian denominations that allow members and officers to express the sexual orientation with which they were born.

I decided that I did not want to leave our denomination over this issue, critical as it is. But I wanted to show solidarity with those denied ordination solely because of "Amendment B". If others could not be ordained because of how they were born, I did not want to be ordained either.

I wanted a new, concrete way to demonstrate support. I found it buried deep within the intricacies of the denomination’s Book of Order, namely G-14.0211a. This section describes the manner in which an Elder or Deacon in good standing may ask to be "released" from the exercise of ordained office. (Ministers of Word and Sacrament can use G-11.0414.)

So I asked my Session on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to "release" me – to set me free. My Session did so in a most loving way, understanding what I was doing.

The advantage of being "released" from ordination is that I can remain a Presbyterian member instead of cutting all ties with the denomination that I used to respect and still love. I can continue working for change and acceptance – just in different ways. So I am free.

Some others may wish to be "released" also. To achieve this released state, Elders and Deacons can simply apply to their Sessions. Those wishing to use this way to show support and solidarity with those denied ordination solely for sexual reasons may take the same action I did recently – one by one - by following the procedure described in the Book of Order, namely G-14.0211a. For convenience, a form is provided below.

Those who wish to have others know of their action may send their names to Released Presbyterians:

Lynne Reade, Coordinator
Released Presbyterians
3610 Dunbar Court
Fremont, CA 94536
e-mail: lynnereade@comcast.net

(If you send in your name, please print clearly and include the office from which you have been released - Elder or Deacon and particular church membership. (Ministers of Word and Sacrament using G-11.0414 would indicate their Presbytery.)

1/19/06

Scroll down to copy the form for application for release from ordained office.

Lynne Reade was a Ruling Elder for almost 40 years before her Session granted her request to be released from the the exercise of ordained office on January 15, 2006. During those years, she served on four different church Sessions in California. A lawyer, she has served on various committees and commissions of the denomination, including the General Assembly Advisory Committee on the Constitution and Permanent Judicial Commissions of the General Assembly, the Synod of the Pacific, and the Presbytery of San Francisco.

I hereby apply for release from my exercise of the ordained office of (Elder or Deacon) in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) in accordance with the provisions of Book of Order section G-14.0211a. (My membership in this church will not change.)

I do this because I wish to stand in solidarity with those Presbyterians whom our denomination refuses to ordain solely because they express the sexual orientation with which they were born.

When at some time in the future our denomination officially ends its current exclusionary policy based on sexual orientation, I hope to apply and be restored to the exercise of ordained office in accordance with Book of Order section G-14.0211c.

__________________________                     ___________________________________
Date                                                             Name

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Release

The release requested is granted, with regret.

_______________________                     ____________________________________________
Date                                                       Session

                                                              ____________________________________
                                                              Clerk of Session