From: hedrick@geneva.rutgers.edu
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Decisions on homosexuality by the Presbyterian judicial commission
Date: 16 Nov 92 04:04:43 GMT

The Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian Church (USA)
recently decided two cases involving interpretation of the PC(USA)
policies on homosexuality.  The Commission is the highest body in the
church to which decisions can be appealed.  This posting borrows
heavily from a summary produced by office of the General Assembly,
though I've added commentary, since readers may not understand some of
the context of the discussion without it.

The first case involved the call of Downtown Prebysterian Church of
Rochester, NJ, to the Rev. Ms. Jane Adams Spahr to serve as co-pastor.
She is an open lesbian.  Some years ago the General Assembly adopted a
policy 'that unrepentant homosexual practice does not accord with the
requirements for ordination set forth in the form of government.'
That provision is clear.  Under it, the PC(USA) does not ordain
unrepentant, practicing homosexuals.  However the policy also
contained a "grandfather clause", which said that this policy should
not be used to deny the rights of any person ordained previous to the
policy.  Ms.  Spahr had been ordained previous to the policy.  The
Judicial Commission set aside her call.  They cited the policy against
homosexual practice, with no comment about the grandfather clause.
Since there is no practical way to appeal beyond them, it appears that
the grandfather clause now has a much smaller scope than it had
previously been assumed to have.

Interestingly enough, homosexual pastors now join pastors who do not
accept the ordination of women in an odd limbo status.  In both cases,
their ordination itself continues to be valid.  They may continue to
serve in their current position.  However they may not be called "to
serve in a position for which ordination is a prerequisite".

The second case has implications for the "More Light" movement.  In
it, a number of churches and presbyteries who favor ordination of
homosexuals have agreed not to ask whether a candidate is homosexual.
(The summary did not state whether the presbytery involved in this
action is in fact a More Light presbytery, but their actions appear to
be consistent with More Light policies.)  

The Permanent Judicial Commission set side the action of the
Presbytery of Twin Cities Area in certifying one of its candidates as
ready to receive a call.  For those not up on Presbyterian legalese,
the person involved is presumably a seminary student, who has passed
all necessary examinations.  Under those circumstances, the Presbytery
normally certifies that they are now qualified to be a pastor.  Once a
specific church decides to call them, they are ordained.  (In the
Presyterian tradition, ordination is not done until someone has a
specific call.)  Anyway, the candidate had informed their Committee on
Preparation for Ministry of her "sexual identify as a lesbian woman".
This is of itself not quite enough to disqualify her, since she might
still be celibate.  While nothing is said in the summary, it appears
that the presbytery did not choose to pursue the question.  The
Commission side aside the action of certifying the candidate, and
instructed the presbytery to determine whether she "is now a
practicing homosexual".

The PC(USA) is currently undergoing a study of sexual ethics, and also
a study on the ordination process.  Many of us had hoped that groups
within the church could find a way to avoid creating confrontations,
to give congregations a chance to study the issues.  It seems that the
Permanent Judicial Commission is not going to let the issue lie in
peace.  We can expect various overtures to the next General Assembly,
i.e. proposals for constitutional or other policy changes.  However I
don't see any signs that the General Assembly is prepared to change
the policy on ordination of homosexuals, nor to permit presbyteries to
pursue differing policies on the issue.