Pro-gay ordination group takes aim at church law By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, October 27, 2004 That All May Freely Serve is taking long-range aim at the constitutional prohibition that prohibits the ordination of ministers and deacons who are practicing homosexuals. The organization has posted on its Web site a suggested overture that would 1) call for a fourth referendum on G-6.0106b, the so-called "fidelity/chastity" requirement in the Book of Order and 2) ask the 217th General Assembly in 2006 to repeal its Authoritative Interpretation that spells out the theological reason for that requirement. That All May Freely Serve says it hopes to "remove all Authoritative Interpretations that act as barriers to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender orientation." There is nothing in the church law that prohibits people from serving as church officers because of their "orientation." The church law applies to practice alone. But That All May Freely Serve frequently uses "orientation" to soften the impact of its proposals. Nonetheless, That All May Freely Serve says its proposed overture contains the language that "would accomplish our common goal of removing all discriminatory barriers to LGBT ordination." The proposed overture calls on the General Assembly to: (A) Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes: Shall G-6.0106b be stricken? (B) Approve the following authoritative interpretation, which shall take effect immediately upon the affirmative vote of the 217th General Assembly (2006): "Interpretative statements concerning ordained service by homosexual persons by the 190th General Assembly(1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, the 119th General Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all subsequent affirmations thereof, shall be given no further force or effect." The 206th General Assembly turned aside 10 overtures from presbyteries that sought similar actions. The major showdown was over the Authoritative Interpretation, which was upheld by a four-vote margin before a final vote on the issue. Many commissioners said they did not want to take final action before the 207th General Assembly receives the report from the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity. That report will be written and sent to presbyteries for comment in 2005, according to the task force's timetable. More Light Presbyterians and the Covenant Network, organizations that are allied in purpose with That All May Freely Serve, have also said they will continue to work to dismantle the ordination law. That All May Freely Serve is one of the most aggressive of the groups. It claims to have a regional network of partners and staff in Texas, Michigan, California, Maryland and New York. Two women – Janie Spahr and Lisa Larges – who were denied ordination because of their commitment to a lesbian lifestyle are among its leaders. Both attended the Oct. 13-15 meeting of the Theological Task Force, along with Paul Peterson, who was the organization's "minister of outreach and education." That All May Fairly Serve says Peterson recently resigned, but it did not spell out the reasons for his resignation.

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