Session declares fidelity/chastity clause non-essential for ordination of officers By Craig M. Kibler The Layman Online Friday, November 22, 2002 TOWSON, Md. – A session, declaring "that the root cause of constitutional crisis in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is the very presence of G-6.0106b in the Book of Order," has proclaimed that the denomination's fidelity/chastity ordination standard "is not an essential of Reformed faith and polity for members to be called, ordained, installed and sustained as officers of our congregation." Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church made its comments in "An Open Letter to the Presbytery of Baltimore and the Presbyterian Church (USA)" that was dated Oct. 31 and included as an "informational" item in the White Book for the 799th Stated Meeting of the Presbytery of Baltimore. While acknowledging that G-6.0106b calls for ordained church officers "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness," the session nevertheless charged that those who uphold the constitutional ordination standard "resolve that the national church will not be whole until all congregations purge and/or preclude gay and lesbian members from ordination." No mention was made in the letter that the ordination standard has been upheld three times in national referendums by ever-growing margins – the most recent by a nearly 3-1 vote of the presbyteries. Session claims 'ultimate responsibility' After proclaiming that G-6.0106b is not an "essential" for the ordination of officers at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, the session – saying that it exercises "ultimate responsibility as our congregation' s governing body" – then proclaimed that "G-6.0106a meets the essential standard. In so doing, we affirm and declare compliance with the Book of Order. We urge other governing bodies to do likewise." Citing what it called a "conflict about interpretation and consistency within the body of church rules," the session – while again acknowledging that G-6.0106b "stands by vote of the General Assembly" – nevertheless claimed that the standard "contradicts numerous rules of mainstream authority from the Book of Order. Among these older, no less binding provisions are the following: [1] the right of all members "to vote and hold office" (G-5.0202) [2] the ban on denial of membership for "reason not related to profession of faith" (G-5.0103) [3] the requirement for "Diversity and Inclusiveness" in a church "open to all persons and to the varieties of talents and gifts of God' s people" (G-4.0402) [4] the standard that "ordained officers differ from other members in function only" (G-6.0102) [5] the compound promise at ordination to be "in obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture, and be continually guided by our confessions" (G-14.0207d for deacons and elders, G-14.0405b4 for ministers) [6] the principle that church government is representative, with the "inalienable" right of God' s people to elect their officers (G-6.0107)." In a congregational display of local option decision-making, the letter then claims that G-6.0108b (the "Within Certain Bounds" clause of the Book of Order) "places upon our session a constitutional duty to set the latitude of conscience within the meaning of church rules."

Respond to this article

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