A YAD speaks on behalf of her brother
[6-13-01]
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In the debate on proposals to remove G-6.0106b from
the Book of Order, in Committee 6, a Youth Advisory Delegate and member
of the committee, Amy Bell, from Hudson River presbytery, stepped to the
microphone and asked permission to address the whole committee rather
than just the moderator.
"God is good," she began, "and he is
here. I'd invite you to close your eyes and imagine you are a 15-year
old boy, and your sister is 20. The two of you are best friends, and one
thing you've shared together is something you've never dared to share
with anyone else: you both feel a strong sense of call to the
ministry."
She went on, "Imagine that your parents are
homophobic, but you and your brother share everything: you're dance
partners, cheerleaders for each other. You accept each other for what
you are. You each know you can't be like the other. But you share
together the secret of your call to ministry, because you can't talk
with your mother and father.
"And now I'm at General Assembly. Many are saying
that the issue is not just homosexuality, but that's all we can talk
about. So last night I called home to talk with my brother, and asked if
I could tell you this story -- my story and his -- because I must speak
out on this injustice.
"Adam said Yes, I could tell our story, and name
him to our whole General Assembly, if it would help move us to the place
where our church could accept him and value his gifts as it can accept
me and value my gifts.
"As Adam looks toward his own future as a gay
young man, he knows that if he could get married his loving
relationship, whatever it turns out to be, would be blessed by the
church. But as things stand now, it cannot be. Yet we allow many other
things that seem to be forbidden by scripture: what about ministers who
are divorced and remarried?
"If you were in Adam's situation, how would you
feel? What would you do?
"You can't do what you feel called to do, because
you can't change who you are.
"Before 1978 our presbyteries did a fine job of
dealing with our ordination standards.
"I urge us to go back to that time, and allow the
possibility, at least, that my brother's gifts, like mine, might be
affirmed and used in the service of our church. This seems to offer our
church the third way that we're looking for, and it offers to my brother
and countless others the respect that they deserve, as God's
children."
