Moderator opposes 'gracious separation,' continues support for gay ordination By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Wednesday, October 8, 2003 PORTLAND, Ore. – Moderator Susan R. Andrews on Tuesday night came out strongly against "gracious separation" within the Presbyterian Church (USA) while, at the same time, continued to press for the ordination of gays and lesbians. After her election as moderator of the 215th General Assembly in May, Andrews resigned her position as a board member of the Covenant Network, a pro-gay ordination organization. It was formed in 1997 in opposition to G-6.0106b, the constitutional standard that requires church officers to maintain fidelity in their marriages and chastity in singleness. "It is my fondest dream that in my lifetime we will move beyond this [the constitutional prohibition against ordaining practicing homosexuals], and open up the full privileges of membership, including ordination, to all of our gay brothers and sisters. I am on record for believing that, and I still do," she said just before her election. Addressing Gathering VIII, which is sponsored by the Presbyterian Coalition, Andrews first took time to honor Harold Kurtz, one of the candidates she defeated to become moderator. Kurtz, a long-time missionary and mission pilot in Ethiopia, is the retired executive director of Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship. Before the election, Kurtz – in opposition to Andrews' position – defended the constitutional, Biblical and historical approach regarding ordination standards. "As a denomination, we have set boundaries on who is to be part of leadership," he said. "We have gone through that three times. … I think we have to accept this reality. This is what the church has said and we need to abide by that." Kurtz pointed that only five of 34,000 Christian denominations in the world "are willing to accept avowed, practicing homosexuals as ordained people in leadership." Besides, he said, "there are 3,000 years of history, of both the Old and New Testaments. The Word of God has spoken to us under the spirit as we stand here today." On Tuesday, Andrews said, "I want to pay tribute to this man." At the time of the election, she said, "I didn't know him" but, during an orientation session, "learned some absolutely fascinating things about" Kurtz. "But, most of all, I met the heart and mind of a true servant of Jesus Christ." That comment elicited a standing ovation for Kurtz. Commenting on her election, Andrews said that, if she was defeated, she would have been "disappointed but, if Harold was elected, it would be okay." In her main address, Andrews repeatedly said "I bring you greetings from …," and provided mini-capsules of some of the diversity she has seen occurring in the church since her election, citing such things as youth conferences, multi-cultural congregations and other events. These greetings, she said, celebrated the "breadth and depth and diversity from our larger Presbyterian family." Andrews talked about a celebration in Hawaii where 400 members of the Korean Church marked the 100th anniversary of its founding; the "Summer Presbyterian Youth Connection that met in Louisville," where 600 young people worshipped six hours a day with "great joy and hope" and proclaimed that "Jesus was in that place;" a congregation in Sac City, Iowa, where "Pastor Greg Smith is growing his small church through focused, relevant Bible study;" two presbyteries in Virginia where "two dozen comfortable, bored, white Southerners had just come back transformed after a mission trip to Malawi;" and a New Church Development in Minneapolis where Jin S. Kim's multicultural congregation was "providing a tremendous message of hope." In two references to the ordination issue, she talked about a pastor who has "different convictions" from her on the "fidelity/chastity" clause, but who "preaches and teaches an eloquent evangelical gospel, but who includes on his staff and session people who disagree with him publicly on gay ordination." Then, after listing the first names of half a dozen people, Andrews said they were "gays and lesbians, all of them who feel called by the Holy Spirit to serve in our church and remain completely obedient to our constitution, which means that many are still waiting for their gifts to be recognized." Commenting on a proposal being discussed during the Gathering called gracious separation, which states there are irreconcilable differences in the denomination, she said "it has been a sobering and saddening afternoon in some ways." "Division or separation, no matter how gracious it is, is not what God intends for humanity," Andrews said. "It's no secret that I disagree with you on some of the significant issues facing our denomination today," she said, but then contradicted Kurtz' defense of the constitutional, Biblical and historical approach to ordination standards and made no reference to the deep divisions in the denomination over Christology, same-sex unions, open communion, progressive theology or other issues. "We agree on the most essential tenets of our faith," that the "Lordship of Jesus Christ shapes all of our life;" that "Scripture is the authoritative witness;" and that "sharing the good news of the gospel is the indisputable call of disciples." "That faithfulness," Andrews said, "is the non-negotiable boundary of our covenant relationship. I want and need a church that includes every single one of you, and I hope and pray that you want a church that includes me. I passionately pray that we can figure out how to be the church together. "Right now, our differences seem irreconcilable," she said. "Right now, there doesn't seem to be any magic answer. Thank God that all of us are Calvinists. Our sovereign God is in charge, and not we ourselves." Andrews then made a reference to her previously stated desire to work for a "middle way," which often means allowing presbyteries to set their own ordination standards which is not permitted now under the denomination's constitutional government. That approach includes delaying action and pinning the denomination's hopes on the Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church. "I invite you to partner with presbyteries across the theological spectrum," she said, "to wait upon the Lord with eager and open hearts. I invite you to continue seeking the truth as you understand it in love." Finishing with what she called "a brief message," Andrews said, "As I read the New Testament, especially the gospel of John and the letters of the Apostle Paul, I read of a radical and passionate call to unity in Christ, the radical passionate prayer of Jesus, who begs, who exhorts, that we might all become one. I believe that this Biblical vision is more demanding and difficult than any other aspect of the gospel that we share."

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