Ordination Standards committee
proposes sweeping repeal of ban on gay ordination
Vote is 31-25 to repeal G-6.0106b and
'authoritative interpretation'
by Jerry Van Marter, Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE -- June 12, 2001 -- A colossal battle looms
on the floor of the 213th General Assembly after its Assembly Committee
on Ordination Standards voted today to recommend that both the sexual
conduct standards for ordination and the 23-year-old "authoritative
interpretation" of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Book of Order
on the subject be repealed.
The final vote on the sweeping measure Overture
01-8 from New York City Presbytery with an addition from Overture 01-12
from the Presbytery of the Western Reserve was 31-25. A substitute
motion to answer all the ordination overtures in the negative and send a
pastoral letter to the presbyteries was defeated, 24-31.
After the committee voted to adopt Overture 01-8, it
voted to let its action answer all other overtures related to ordination
standards.
Those on the losing side of the vote immediately
announced that they would file a minority report.
The recommendation asks that G-6.0106b be deleted from
the Book of Order, that the "authoritative interpretation" of
1978 "be given no further force or effect," and that a
sentence be added to G-6.0106a stating: "Their (candidates for
ordination) suitability to hold office is determined by the governing
body where the examination for ordination or installation takes place,
guided by Scriptural and constitutional standards under the authority
and Lordship of Jesus Christ."
If the proposal is approved by the Assembly, the new
authoritative interpretation will not take effect unless a majority of
the 173 presbyteries vote to ratify the deletion of G-6.0106b.
The close vote mirrored the debate in this committee
and the running battle that has nearly consumed the PC(USA) since
G-6.0106b was approved by the 1996 General Assembly and then ratified by
the presbyteries by a vote of 97-74.
During a free-wheeling discussion that lasted all
morning and well into the afternoon, speakers to the motion were almost
evenly divided.
The Rev. Molly Douthett of Miami Presbytery, who made
the motion that eventually passed, urged committee members not to be
afraid. "I hear people saying we'll die, that this will be the end
of the Presbyterian Church," she said. "Well, why are we
afraid? Christ conquered death, so there's no place for fear in the life
of faith."
But the Rev. David Hornor of Donegal Presbytery warned
that the PC(USA) will be adversely affected in a variety of ways that
should cause concern. "This will hurt our relations with a number
of our partner churches, who have told us their relationships with us
will be difficult to maintain if we ordain homosexuals," he said.
"Beyond that," Hornor said, "I fear what will happen on
the floors of our presbyteries, with every candidate for installation
questioned about their sexual orientation or practice. Some pastors will
not be welcome in other presbyteries."
Ted Mikels of Salem Presbytery called the proposal
"a broadside in our continuing wars." Camille Josey of Greater
Atlanta Presbytery agreed. "This overture will engage us in a war
that cannot be won," she said. "We should seek any other
method than legislation."
The Rev. Ted Blankinship of Central Florida Presbytery
called ordination standards a "justice issue" that cannot be
avoided. "It doesn't matter if we're tired of it," he said,
"I'm sure the civil rights advocates in the 60s got real tired,
too. But no other class of Presbyterians is excluded and we must do what
is right, no matter how tired we are of it."
Other opponents argued that the Bible is clear that
homosexuality is a sin and that the church simply cannot tolerate or
excuse sinful behavior. Alfred Roth of Cascades Presbytery said, "I
look at the issue this way: What does God's Word say? If this passes,
I'm concerned about what will happen to that part of the church that
holds to God's Word and therefore these standards."
But Theological Student Advisory Delegate Theresa
Wood-Burgess said, "We can't take the Bible literally or all the
women in this room would have to leave." Ralph LeVan of Scioto
Valley Presbytery said that "even if we grant that homosexuality is
a sin, according to the Bible, so is divorce and we've decided that's
okay."
The issue of sinfulness is related to the issue of
repentance, said several committee members. "God gives us a chance
to repent," said the Rev. Robert Thornton of Abingdon Presbytery.
"I step in mudholes, but eventually I learn to walk around 'em,"
he said. "We'll vote today but the Word of God will remain and
we'll eventually have to submit to His standards."
Kathryn Morgan rejected the idea that the Bible is an
exclusive possession of any one person or position. "I hear 'my
Bible says this,'" she said, "but it's God's Bible, not yours
or mine. I've seen God's Word lived out in the lives of (homosexual
persons) and I believe there's room in God's house for all of us."
