[6-11-01]

The General Assembly committee on ordination standards began work this morning by hearing about two hours of testimony from many witnesses.

The report from Presbyterian News Service offers a good overview of what went on. Your WebWeaver will add just a few comments for now.

At least 34 people stepped to the microphone to testify, each of them being allowed just two minutes. Committee moderator Grady Allison cut off each speaker with a brusque "your time is up," offering no thanks or support. Most of those who spoke were in support of one or another of the overtures to delete G-6.0106b, or to deal with it in some other way.

The themes were familiar: On one side were the calls for justice, for the living out of a gospel of grace, for an informed use of scripture, for an end to the deep pain caused by years of exclusion. On the other side were those who urged that standards not be lowered, that pastors must provide moral leadership, that the biblical strictures against homosexuality mean just what they seem (to some) to say, that ordination is for the whole church, and not just one congregation or presbytery.

Eugene March, professor of Hebrew scriptures at Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, introduced a statement by a majority of Bible professors at Presbyterian seminaries, which calls on the Assembly not to decide these issues on the basis of just 6 short passages, especially when their meaning is subject to much debate among scholars. (In committee discussion later, one commissioner made very clear that no bunch of professors was going to divert his thinking from the clear commands of the Bible.)

Moderator Jack Rogers stopped in on the committee late in the afternoon, urging them to consider how they might respond to the appointment of a study commission as a way of dealing with the tensions in the church.  Some commissioners expressed concern at what they saw as interference in their work, but he made a brief return visit after the dinner break, which apparently eased some of those concerns. 

As the evening debate rambled on, the moderator called on the committee's two ecumenical advisory delegates, one representing the uniting churches in the Netherlands, and the other from the United Church of Christ here in the U.S. Both of them noted that their churches have adopted far more open policies toward gay and lesbian people, even though the progress has not always been easy. In the Netherlands, however, both of the major Reformed churches have found the more openness was the way to preserve the unity of their churches, even though 25 to 30 percent of their people are "absolutely opposed" to ordination, as they are also opposed to the ordination of women.

Tonight's discussion was an exploratory one, with opinions being offered, but no actions moved. What will happen tomorrow remains to be revealed.

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