Synod commissioners seek new review of Baltimore case

Synod commissioners seek new review of Baltimore case By John H. Adams *The Layman Online* Friday, February 13, 2004 Six commissioners – three elders and three ministers – have called for another review of the Synod of the Mid-Atlantic's handling of complaints against the Baltimore Presbytery because of how it handled an accusation against one of its ministers. The six asked the synod to hold a special meeting 1) to hear the report by the synod's Administrative Review that reviewed the Baltimore case, 2) review the response of the Synod Council and 3) and "elect an altogether new Administrative Review Committee." The first review committee contended that the presbytery had not erred when it declared that the Rev. Donald Stroud, a self-acknowledged, practicing homosexual, should not be tried in church court for violating the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). A complaint said Stroud had renounced the jurisdiction of the PCUSA by declaring that he was defying the denomination's ordination law. The Synod Council accepted the review committee's report without taking any further action. The six commissioners said, "The charge of the [new] ARC shall be to review the policies, procedures, and actions of Baltimore Presbytery with regard to the admitting into membership (G-11.0401), validation of (G-11.0403, G-11.0408), and oversight of (G-11.0502a) ministers. In compliance with G-9.0409, the ARC 'shall determine, either from the records of those proceedings or from any other information as may come to its attention, whether: (1) The proceedings have been correctly recorded; (2) The proceedings have been regular and in accordance with the Constitution; (3) The proceedings have been prudent and equitable; (4) The proceedings have been faithful to the mission of the whole church; (5) The lawful injunctions of a higher governing body have been obeyed." One of the issues in the case has involved questions of impartiality. Before the synod began its review of the Stroud case, the presbytery appointed an investigating committee to consider whether Stroud should face charges. Charles Forbes, the stated clerk of the presbytery and a member of the investigating committee, was a co-founder of That All May Freely Serve in Baltimore, which employs Stroud. That All May Freely Serve is an organization that is opposed to – and promotes defiance of – the denomination's constitutional prohibition against ordaining practicing homosexuals and adulterers. Two other investigating committee members also financially supported That All May Freely Serve. The six synod commissioners sent their formal request for the special meeting to June Bucy, the moderator of the synod, and Roger Harp, the stated clerk. The letter was signed by elder Gilbert Broyles of the Presbytery of Western North Carolina; elder Lynn Burris of the Presbytery of Charlotte; elder Jack Dyer of the Presbytery of Salem; minister Ray Riddleberger of the Presbytery of the Peaks; minister Bill Stewart of the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina; and minister Powell Sykes of the Presbtery of Salem.


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