Rulings allow same-sex unions, gay candidate for ministry By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, May 24, 2000 The highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has decided that Presbyterian ministers may bless same-sex unions as long as they're not considered marriages, and that an openly gay candidate may continue his quest for ordination. The rulings by the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly, made public May 24, essentially upheld the findings of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast. Just as the rulings were posted on the denomination's web site, Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick and Moderator Freda Gardner issued a joint statement called a pastoral letter. They said the rulings confirmed the consistent witness of the denomination on both matters. The court did not reach a decision on a third case relating to the "fidelity/chastity" clause in the Book of Order. In that case, Christ Church of Burlington, Vt., issued a resolution expressing its unwillingness to abide by G-6.0106b, the standard that requires deacons, elders and ministers to confine their sexual activity to marriage between a man and a woman. The Presbytery of Northern New England granted Christ Church's right to repudiate the ordination standard. (Earlier Layman Online story on appellate hearing) A decision in that case will be issued after the meeting of the 212th General Assembly in Long Beach, Calif., June 24-July 1. Several overtures opposing same-sex unions and dealing with issues related to G-6.0106b are on the agenda for the General Assembly. Also, lobbying and civil disobedience demonstrations are planned by Soulforce, an ecumenical gay activist group that protested Methodist policies against ordaining gays and same-sex unions when the United Methodist Church met recently in Cleveland. More than 200 protestors were arrested during the Methodists' quadrennial General Conference. The decisions released May 24 covered two cases: The high court upheld the synod court's determination that the Presbytery of West Jersey did not err when it allowed Graham Van Keuren, who said he was gay and that he intended to live in a fully sexual way with another gay person, to continue as a candidate for the ordained ministry. The high court concluded that the standard of "fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness" did not apply to candidates for ordination – only to those being considered for actual ordination. Text of ruling. (Earlier Layman Online story on appellate hearing.) The court also affirmed the synod court's decision in action against the Presbytery of Hudson River, which voted to allow sessions to authorize same-sex unions by Presbyterian ministers and in Presbyterian churches. The court said the same-sex unions did not constitute marriage. It also issued guidelines ministers should follow to avoid having the ceremonies appear to be marriages. Many gay activists – and even some ministers who conduct the services – say they are in effect church-conducted marriages. Text of ruling. (Earlier Layman Online story on appellate hearing.)

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