Synod committee to review Baltimore presbytery actions The Layman Online Monday, November 11, 2002 The Synod of the Mid-Atlantic has decided to review the actions of the Presbytery of Baltimore, which has blocked a complaint against a homosexual Presbyterian minister who has continued to say publicly that he will not comply with the "fidelity/chastity" ordination standard in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Davis Yeuell, the chair of the synod council, said the council is expected to select the members of an administrative review committee Nov. 15 and that the committee should begin its work by early December. The synod's administrative review committee will examine the records of the presbytery's actions regarding Stroud. A synod administrative committee would have wide-ranging authority, including the possibility of assuming the jurisdiction of the presbytery's commissioners. There also may be action within the presbytery itself. Charles Forbes, the presbytery's stated clerk, has told The Layman Online that he is preparing a report for the presbytery in the case of the Rev. Donald Stroud, who has said publicly on numerous occasions that he will continue to violate church law and not abandon his homosexual lifestyle. Stroud, who works for a gay-activist group called That All May Freely Serve, is the target of a disciplinary case filed by Paul Rolf Jensen. Despite Stroud's comments, the presbytery's Investigating Committee has dismissed the action. Futhermore, the presbytery has voted in favor of a recommendation – but not yet a policy – that would say that the presbytery "shall not pursue any disciplinary or remedial complaints growing out of attempts to enforce the provisions of G-6.0106b." That proposal was a recommendation to the presbytery's council, which had developed a more moderate statement about the ordination issue. The full presbytery added a non-enforcement proposal, including informing "session and presbytery investigating committees and the Presbytery Permanent Judicial Commission that in the conduct of their business they shall be instructed by" the presbytery's proposed refusal to enforce G-6.0106b. The presbytery council has not responded to the proposals by the full presbytery.

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