Pittsburgh Presbytery criticizes Women of Faith awards Robert P. Mills The Layman Online Friday, June 4, 1999 "While granting an award does not substantively alter the PC(USA) Constitution in any way, it has great symbolic impact. To conservatives, evangelicals and others who have supported our constitutional ordination standards, the Executive Committee's action has been perceived as 'slap in the face.'" – Pittsburgh Presbytery At its June 3 meeting, Pittsburgh Presbytery directed its stated clerk to send a letter to the General Assembly Council, and to GAC executive director John Detterick, "regarding the recent 'Women of Faith' Awards and the subsequent actions" by the GAC's executive committee. The presbytery's action concerns the award being granted to "lesbian evangelist" Jane Spahr and lesbian activist Letty Russell by the Women's Ministries Program Area of the denomination's National Ministries Division. The National Ministries Division steering committee rescinded Spahr's award. However, the GAC executive committee, in a secret ballot vote, reversed the steering committee's decision and allowed Spahr's award to stand. Commenting on the executive committee's action the presbytery noted, "Many who love our Church and its Constitution feel betrayed. Many believe that the GAC Executive Committee acted with disregard for the consequences of their action, and for the danger it causes to the fragile and tenuous peace and unity that has existed in our denomination recently. Already, voices are responding in protest. Some are calling for the withholding of per capita from the General Assembly. Others are promoting a schism within the Church. (The recent debate in Beaver-Butler Presbytery in late May is symptomatic of the great discord the issue is causing.)" The presbytery continued, "While granting an award does not substantively alter the PC(USA) Constitution in any way, it has great symbolic impact. To conservatives, evangelicals and others who have supported our constitutional ordination standards, the Executive Committee's action has been perceived as 'slap in the face.'" Jane Spahr National leadership put on notice Under the heading "Rationale for this Response," the presbytery said, "Why should Pittsburgh Presbytery take an action relative to something another governing body has done? Because our churches and members already know about this controversy, and will be hearing more about it as the Assembly approaches. The great progress our Presbytery has made in recent years towards unity, harmony, and positive support of local churches could be eroded, if we allow ourselves to become divided over an emotional issue such as this. A brief, clear statement is needed at this time – focusing not on the issue of ordination standards, but on maintaining the unity of the Presbyterian Church. "What is the appropriate response? We members of Pittsburgh Presbytery, in spite of our diversity in viewpoints and theology, value the principles of unity and mutual forbearance. It is therefore appropriate for us to express our corporate disapproval when it appears that another part of Christ's Body fails to live up to these ideals. An action of urging a loving admonition to those who have injured the peace and unity of the Church is consistent with Scripture; it will also serve to put those who are in national leadership roles on notice that they will be expected to be sensitive to the needs of the entire Church." The presbytery recommends "that those responsible for these actions, which have resulted in a painful public controversy and disruption of the peace and unity of the Church, be admonished for their lack of sensitivity and discretion."

Respond to this article Russell thinks Women of Faith award outrage 'unfair' May 28, 1999 Spahr will get Women of Faith award April 27, 1999

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