Here is the full text of the decision by the
Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Pacific, in the case
relating to the ordination of the Rev. Katie Morrison.
[5-22-02]
Re: Edgar
Hart, et al.; Presbytery of San Joaquin; Session of Rockville
Presbyterian Fellowship v,
Presbytery of the Redwoods (Remedial Cases 01-03, 01-04; 01-15;
01-16)
This Commission is bound by authoritative interpretations of the
Book of Order when rendered through a decision of the Permanent Judicial
Commission of the General Assembly (G-13.0103r).
The most recent interpretation of the standard
for sustaining a remedial complaint of irregularity in an ordination
process is Wier v. Session, Second Presbyterian Church
of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Remedial Case 214-5). In that decision, the
GAPJC held that "When a complaint alleges violation of a
constitutional standard that may have extreme consequences to a persons
reputation, career, or friendships, a greater degree of pleading
specificity is required. A complaint making such allegations must assert
factual allegations of how, when, where, and under what circumstances
the person was self-acknowledging a practice which the Confessions call
a sin. The plain language of the Constitution clearly dates that
disqualified persons must have self-acknowledged the proscnbed sin.
Self-acknowledgment may come in many forms. In whatever form it may
take, self-acknowledgment must be plain, palpable, and obvious and the
details of this must alleged in the complaint."
In the instant remedial complaints, there is no
allegation of a self-acknowledged practice the Confessions call sin, and
there are no allegations stating how, when, where, and under what
circumstances the person seeking ordained office was self-acknowledging
a practice which the Confessions call a sin.
Therefore, the complaints failed to establish
reasonable cause for a requirement of individualized inquiry which would
have been mandated had such supporting facts been set forth. Under the
current standard, the complaints failed to state a claim upon which
relief can be granted
Although we would prefer to hear the evidence
and recognize the difficulty which is imposed on complainants under the
current standard, it is the duty of this Commission to order the
dismissal of these complaints.
So ordered. May 17, 2002
JoAn Blackstone, Moderator,
Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Pacific
