More Light Presbyterians
Lament Anti-Gay Judicial Complaints
[3-28-02]
March 28, 2002, San Francisco, CA
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More Light Presbyterians has issued this press
statement from their National Board of Directors:
More Light Presbyterians Lament Anti-Gay Judicial
Complaints
Eight more judicial complaints exclusively related to lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender Presbyterians, our families and churches have
been made known during Holy Week. The National Board of More Light
Presbyterians laments such actions and the anti-gay attitudes that
sanction them.
Adding to the rapidly rising number, now more than a
dozen judicial cases have been filed against faithful Presbyterians and
faithful Presbyterian churches. The charges include heresy and challenge
the participation of elders and clergy in ordinations and holy unions.
Complaints also include churches offering welcome and affirmation to
LGBT people and their families as well as churches that make statements
of conscience and dissent.
"Using G-6.0106b on ordination as a platform for
such divisive and personal attack, including charges of heresy upon
faithful Presbyterians, and even apostasy to the 214th General Assembly,
reveals the hypocrisy of this church law. It also reveals the
prejudicial application of this law since its placement in the Book of
Order in 1997. This is why we are committed to removing it,"
according to Bill Moss, Co-Moderator, and Elder, Old First Presbyterian
Church, San Francisco, CA.
These complaints can only be understood as spiteful
and hurtful actions that cause division in the Church rather than to
support understanding, reconciliation and healing. We are convinced that
education is what is needed in our Church, not litigation.
Mitzi Henderson, Co-Moderator, and Elder, First
Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, CA, says, "These complaints are not
the kind of character or spirit that most Presbyterians would support.
We honor what is essential to faith and the values of liberty of
conscience and mutual forbearance. It is clear that God has more to
teach us about faith, sexuality, healthy relationships and being the
Church."
Michael J. Adee, National Field Organizer and gay
elder, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe, NM offers, "I find it
profoundly revealing that no one in the conservative ranks of our Church
seems to care about the over one-hundred churches that have no women
elders on their Sessions and therefore violate the Book of Order's
requirement for representation. Or the fact that a growing number of
women clergy leave our denomination because of its sexism and the fact
that they do not receive calls to serve."
Adee continues, "Moreover, what is the response
to churches that resort to financial extortion by refusing to pay their
per capita? Instead, the conservative leadership call for 'war on the
Presbyterian Church' and encourage these judicial attacks upon faithful
LGBT Presbyterians and our supporters, filed even during Holy
Week."
On this Maundy Thursday, a day of reflection upon the
life, death and resurrection of Christ, and the betrayal from his own
followers, we pray for our Church. We pray for our Church to seek and be
open to God's Spirit leading us to new understandings and ways to be the
Church.
# # #
Press/Media Contacts:
Mitzi Henderson, Co-Moderator, 650-854-2598
Bill Moss, Co-Moderator, 415-786-8375
Michael J. Adee, National Field Organizer, 505-820-7082
Katie Morrison, National Field Organizer, 617-547-6774
