Defiant minister facing charges 'marries' another same-sex couple The Layman Online Monday, October 14, 2002 A Cincinnati pastor who faces disciplinary charges for defying the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has now publicly announced that he conducted a service of "marriage" for two women recently. In the October newsletter of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church, which was posted on the church's Web site, the Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken included two references to the "marriage" of Janet Hess and Carrie Wilson – one about the ceremony and the other among a list of church "celebrations." Van Kuiken is one of several PCUSA pastors who have repeatedly asserted that they are defying church law and boldly announced specific acts of defiance. While those acts have occurred in several presbyteries, no presbytery investigating committee or court has moved complaints toward church trials. In March, Paul Rolf Jensen of Virginia filed charges against Van Kuiken and Harold Porter, pastor emeritus of Mt. Auburn church, accusing them of having renounced the jurisdiction of the PCUSA through their declarations and acts of defiance. After reading Van Kuiken's lastest statements about the "marriage" of two women, Jensen sent a Oct. 14 letter to the Presbytery of Cincinnati saying, "It seems as if your presbytery is giving scant concern to upholding the constitution of our church … Evidently, your presbytery has appointed utterly toothless committees." The denomination's stated clerk, Clifton Kirkpatrick, has issued several statements that ministers and elders have no constitutional right to say they are defying – or will defy – church law. But Kirkpatrick has not specified to presbyteries and synods how they should deal with those acts of defiance other than to work "pastorally" with defiant officers. Meanwhile, Jensen says he sees little activity by the Presbytery of Cincinnati to require that Van Kuiken comply with church law or to discipline him for his public statements and acts of defiance. He filed the charges on March 14. "On August 8, 2002, I was faxed an unsigned letter, presumably from the investigating committee, asking me to refrain from further comments on this case," Jensen told The Layman Online. "I responded the same day to the stated clerk [of the Presbytery of Cincinnati] and stated that since the accused individuals were very public about their defiance, and had made the case a public issue, I was not about to adhere to their request, which had no basis in the Book of Order in any instance." Jensen said he informed the presbytery that he would be willing to testify before the investigating committee considering whether to call for a church trial. "On August 22, I was sent a letter by the stated clerk saying that I would hear from the investigating committee again. To date, I have not." In his latest letter to the Presbytery of Cincinnati, Jensen said: 14 October 2002 Janis Adams, Stated Clerk Presbytery of Cincinnati 1323 Myrtle Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45206 RE: Disciplinary Action Against The Rev. Steven Van Kuiken Dear Madam Clerk: It seems as if your presbytery is giving scant concern to upholding the constitution of our church. Some seven months ago, on March 14, 2002, I filed a disciplinary action against Mr. Van Kuiken, and wrote you calling for administrative action. I indicated that I stood ready to come to Cincinnati to testify. Since then, the only communication I have had from the Investigating Committee is a letter dated August 5th, saying that I would again hear from it, which I have not. Evidently, your presbytery has appointed utterly toothless committees. I say this because on March 17, 2002 Mr. Van Kuiken preached a sermon wherein he promised continued disobedience of the constitution, and on July 25, 2002, Mr. Van Kuiken published a widely-disseminated letter admitting essentially all of the allegations in my accusation, and pledged his further defiance of the constitution and thus of his ordination vow to be governed by the polity of the church. He has kept his word. On September 14, 2002, right under the nose of your administrative commission, he officiated at what his congregation's website describes as a "marriage" of two lesbians. The bride was Janet Hess, and the other bride was Carrie Wilson. Under these circumstances, I ask that you consider this letter a communication to your presbytery as a whole. I ask that you bring it immediately to the attention of the presbytery, and I then request that it refer the two disciplinary actions I have filed to the Synod of the Covenant, pursuant to Book of Order section D-4.0100 et seq. Sincerely yours, PAUL ROLF JENSEN

Respond to this article

Home · News · PLC Publications · The Presbyterian Layman Online Reviews · Archives · History of the Lay Committee · Feedback · Links