 Nullifying Authoritative Interpretation on ordination is a 'moderate position,' commissioners told By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Friday, July 2, 2004
The board of directors of the Witherspoon Society, one of the more aggressive groups in the Presbyterian Church (USA) advocating for such issues as gay ordination and same-sex marriage, sent an "issues alert" to commissioners a day after the General Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministry voted 35-30 in favor of an overture that declares sessions and presbyteries "are not bound by statements of the General Assembly and its commissions regarding ordained service by homosexual persons that predate the adoption of G-6.0106b." G-6.0106b is the Book of Order requirement that says candidates for deacon, elder and minister must demonstrate either fidelity within the marriage of a man and a woman or chastity in singleness to be eligible to serve as officers. The action, if approved by the General Assembly, would nullify the 1978 and 1979 Authoritative Interpretations – first adopted by the United Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church U.S. and later affirmed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) – and reaffirmed by later assemblies and court decisions after those predecessor denominations reunited in 1983. The Authoritative Interpretation is a thorough assessment of what the Bible teaches about homosexual behavior. It unequivocally says that homosexual behavior is sinful and that self-acknowledged, practicing homosexuals could not be ordained. That committee vote, according to the Witherspoon Society, is a "moderate position, recommending the elimination of earlier Authoritative Interpretations about gay and lesbian Christians while leaving 'Amendment B' in place. The Witherspoon Society stands with More Light Presbyterians in favoring the removal of G-6.0106b. We also stand among all groups working for the removal of old, outdated Authoritative Interpretations. This will give more freedom to presbyteries and sessions to discern for themselves how the values of 'fidelity and chastity' might best be understood in questions of fitness for ordination. If motions are made to remove G-6.0106b from the Book of Order, we believe that would move us further toward justice and an easing of the conflict in our church. The effect removing the Authoritative Interpretation, as the Witherspoon Society says in its statement, would be to open the door to legal challenges over the meaning of words. Homosexuals and their allies in the denomination have argued that such terms as "chastity" do not prevent homosexuals in "committed relationships" from serving as church officers. Their argument goes that homosexual couples are "chaste" because they are "committed." Without the Authoritative Interpretation serving as a binding statement, the opponents of G-6.0106b – such as the Witherspoon Society – believe they can make a case for local option, meaning some sessions or presbyteries might ordain homosexuals while others choose not to ordain them. If they succeed, they would dismantle a historic principle in Presbyterian history that considers the ordination of officers by sessions and presbyteries is an act on behalf of the whole church. But the General Assembly will also get a minority report from some committee members. That report opposes nullifying the Authoritative Interpretation. And, on the floor of the General Assembly, some of the committee's members who carried the day for nullifying the Authoritative Interpretation will not have a vote. In appealing to commissioners, the Witherspoon Society says, "For over 30 years our society of volunteers has been concerned for the church's heritage of public responsibility, summarized in the name of John Witherspoon, our first Moderator and the only minister to sign the Declaration of Independence. As July 4 approaches, we remember their courage to resist an empire." |
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