Cincinnati presbytery refers
dispute to commission
Neither side can claim victory in scrap over
constitution, gay ordination
by John Filiatreau, Presbyterian News Service
CINCINNATI, OH -- May 15, 2002 -- After a brief,
prayerful debate, Cincinnati Presbytery voted during a May 15 meeting to
name an administrative commission to decide what to do about a
high-profile constitutional clash between two congregations.
Madeira-Silverwood Presbyterian Church had asked that
Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church be ordered to rescind within 30 days
its "declaration of intent to disregard" a provision of the
constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) -- or be expelled for
having "renounced the jurisdiction" of the denomination.
Mount Auburn had proposed the naming of a
"special committee" to examine its ministry, explore
"possible creative resolutions" of the conflict, give the
presbytery "time for a period of discernment," and produce a
report in January 2003.
The dispute arose earlier this year after Mount
Auburn's session declared that it would not abide by a provision of the Book
of Order -- G6.0106b -- that says a church officer must be either
faithful in a marriage between a man and a woman, or chaste in
singleness.
Mount Auburn, a member congregation of More Light
Presbyterians, has been in the forefront of the drive for full inclusion
of gay and lesbian Presbyterians in the life of the church and in its
ordained leadership.
Mount Auburn's session issued its statement of
defiance shortly after the PC(USA)'s 173 presbyteries, by a margin of
nearly 3 to 1, rejected an amendment that would have removed G6.0106b
from the constitution.
After listening to advocates for both of the
"dueling overtures," the presbytery's ministers and elders,
meeting at Madeira-Silverwood, voted 124-77 to accept a recommendation
from the presbytery council that both measures be referred to an
"administrative commission."
The members of the commission will be appointed and
its duties will be outlined during the July meeting of the presbytery,
which represents 83 churches and about 22,000 adult members in Ohio,
Kentucky and Indiana.
While the debate was in progress, a number of
volunteers in prayer shawls asked God to bless the participants and
insure an outcome in keeping with the divine will.
The meeting attracted about 180 visitors, 150 more
than usual.
Although the participants were orderly, even cordial,
two police officers from the quiet suburb of Madeira were circulating in
the parking lot. They said their assignment was to "be
visible." A presbytery official said they were there because they
"don't have a whole lot to do."
At the outset, it was announced that the sessions of
seven other Cincinnati-area PC(USA) congregations -- Crestview
Presbyterian, of Westchester, OH; First, of Harrison, OH; and College
Hill, Covenant First, North, Springdale and Northminster, all of
Cincinnati -- had endorsed the overture put forward by Madeira-Silverwood.
The Rev. Tom Sweets, Madeira-Silverwood's pastor,
argued against the council's proposal to name an investigating
commission, the motion before the presbytery.
Claiming that the eight churches that endorsed
Madeira-Silverwood's action represent "nearly one-quarter of the
members of Cincinnati Presbytery," Sweets recounted the history of
presbytery efforts to deal with Mount Auburn's "ecclesiastical
disobedience" since it was first declared "irregular" --
"That means illegal," Sweets contended -- in 1992.
Citing a decision from the stated clerk of the PC(USA),
the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, that the Mount Auburn session "lacks
constitutional authority to disregard any mandatory provision of the Book
of Order," Sweets called the case against Mount Auburn
"open and shut," arguing that its session's overt defiance of
the constitution has "dishonored the presbytery and the
denomination."
"We do not need to put off our decision or take
time for more study," he argued, asking, "How many more years,
after 10 years, do we need?"
Sweets said action must be taken against Mount Auburn
"to preserve our constitution and to preserve our very Presbyterian
church."
The clerk of Mount Auburn's session, Julia Arosteguy,
noted that the church has been part of the presbytery for 140 years.
"Mount Auburn loves the Presbyterian Church," she said,
"and wants to stay here for another 140 years."
Arosteguy said she understands that many in the
presbytery "are probably very tired of this discussion" and
may "wonder why Mount Auburn cannot straighten out -- no pun
intended -- and fly right," but pointed out that the Book of
Order provides for "freedom of conscience with respect to the
interpretation of Scripture" and endorses "the full expression
of the rich diversity" of PC(USA) membership.
Mount Auburn's pastor, the Rev. Steven Van Kuiken,
said, "We see this action (defying G6.0106b) not so much as
disobedience to the church, but rather as obedience to Jesus Christ. …
We believe we are being good Presbyterians."
Van Kuiken said his church is "filled with so
many beautiful and gentle souls" who "are very active in the
life of this presbytery and this denomination … gladly pay our
per-capita …… contribute to the mission of this presbytery and this
church … (and) for a long time have been able to live in peace and
harmony and civility in this presbytery."
He said the dispute "deserves at least a fair and
honest discernment process, and not a rush to judgment."
After the vote, Mount Auburn issued a statement in
which it said: "We are confident that this administrative
commission will conclude that Mount Auburn is a faithful, loving and
valuable part of this presbytery and denomination. … We will continue
our ministry and exclude no one from full membership because of their
sexual orientation."
General Presbyter Sam Roberson said he was pleased
with "how the presbytery responded" to the conflict, adding
that he thinks the outcome showed that "80 percent of the people in
the room" weren't comfortable with either congregation's overture.
Roberson said that Mount Auburn representatives, who
in the past have "tended to speak at the presbytery in ways that
have been challenging, and sometimes strident," in this case
"showed what they care about … modeled who we are as
Presbyterians, and let the presbytery see their vulnerable side."
He also pointed out that participants in the meeting
were "calm and rational" and "without rancor," and
that there was "no shouting, no tears, no inappropriate
outbursts."
He said he "certainly did notice" that seven
congregations -- "all of them important parts of this
presbytery" -- endorsed the Madeira-Silverwood overture.
"I have to do my math," he said. "I
certainly will be making pastoral visits to all those
congregations."
| A
report in the Cincinnati Enquirer notes that the
presbytery's decision gave neither side "a decisive
victory." Mount Auburn's overture requesting a special
committee would have given less power to the presbytery;
Madeira-Silverwood's overture was asking the presbytery to
"issue an ultimatum: Stop ordaining gays and lesbians as
elders and deacons or leave the denomination." |
| |
| The
Layman Online reports the presbytery's action as a
defeat for the Madeira-Silverwood overture, since the immediate
action it demanded was not granted. |
| |
For
some of our earlier reports on the Mt. Auburn situation, you
might look at ...
 | Charges filed against Mt. Auburn church
in Cincinnati [3-19-02] |
| "On a parlous path,"
a Presbyterian News Service report on various charges and
complaints against inclusive churches. [3-30-02] |
|
