Inclusive churches

Two inclusive congregations charged

Charges filed against Mt. Auburn church in Cincinnati

[3-19-02]

The Session of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, OH, has adopted a Statement of Dissent and Non-Compliance in relation to G-6.0106b, reaffirming for the tenth straight year its policy of inclusion, which declares "that gays and lesbians are part of God's good creation and that they no less than heterosexuals, are meant to enjoy God's gifts of love, joy and intimacy."

The Session has also adopted a "Statement on Inclusive Marriage," affirming "that Christian marriage services be held in our church for homosexual as well as heterosexual couples."

Stated Clerk responds

Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has responded to these actions with a letter expressing appreciation for Mt. Auburn's stance of welcome toward "our Lord's Gay and Lesbian children," while also warning that the Session is exceeding its authority by acting in violation of current standards in the Book of Order, and by giving instructions to its nominating committee.

Charges filed

And in short order, a protest has been filed by Paul Rolf Jensen, an attorney in Reston, VA. According to the Layman OnLine, he has submitted to the Presbytery of Cincinnati disciplinary complaints against Mount Auburn's pastor, the Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken, and the retired pastor, the Rev. Harold G. Porter. He has asked that both pastors be brought to trial, and also be removed from their offices.

Another complaint: Baldwin Park, CA

In another complaint against another inclusive congregation, the First Presbyterian Church of Baldwin Park, California, has come from the Session of Michillinda Presbyterian Church in Pasadena. In this case, the complaint does not seek the usual disciplinary action, but rather demands that the Baldwin Park session offer apologies to the presbytery and all its congregations, and to the whole mailing list of its newsletter.

After First Presbyterian Church in Baldwin Park, Calif., publicly acknowledged in a church newsletter that the session had violated church law by ordaining homosexual elders, the session of another California church filed a remedial church court case.

According to a report in the Layman OnLine, the session of Michillinda Presbyterian Church in Pasadena has asked the presbytery court to order the Baldwin Park session to apologize to the presbytery, each of the congregation's members, other congregations in the presbytery and the entire mailing list of the The Messenger, the Baldwin Park newsletter.

Not content with asking the Baldwin Park session to say "I'm sorry," the complaint outlines quite specifically what their letter must say. As reported by The Layman OnLine, it must include acknowledgments:

	that its action in ordaining GLBT elders was in violation of PCUSA polity;
	that it has embarrassed other Presbyterians;
	that it has created a "semblance of division" through its action;
	that it intends to obey present policy;
	that its will not "overstep the bounds of polity either now or in the foreseeable future;
	and that it will show "good will toward the complainants and others who may have been upset by their action."

One might wonder whether this detailed demand for a public statement is an enthusiastic over-reaction to the letter which the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Central Florida Presbytery sent to the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Sebastian, Florida.

Sebastian's session was told to publish in the church newsletter a retraction of its requirement that all candidates for ordination in that church must subscribe to its own "confession" of faith. The demands made of the Baldwin Park session go farther, though, than the requirement made in the Central Florida case.