Homosexual candidacy argued in West Jersey Presbytery case By John H. Adams The Layman Online Monday, November 8,1999 NEWARK – When is a candidate's stated intention to violate the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) a reason not to allow him to pursue ordination as a minister of the Word and Sacrament? From the outset, said Gary R. Griffith, the attorney for complainants who brought charges against the West Jersey Presbytery after it accepted as a candidate for minister a Princeton Theological seminary graduate who said it was his intention to live in a sexually active relationship with another homosexual. Not until a candidate is actually considered for ordination by a presbytery, said John Reisner, the attorney representing the West Jersey Presbytery. Decision in two weeks Griffith and Reisner made their arguments to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast during a two-hour trial Nov. 5 in Newark. Fred Denson, moderator of the commission, said a decision will be mailed to participants within two weeks. On March 16, 1999, the West Jersey Presbytery voted 81-61 to receive Graham Van Keuren as a candidate for ordination, despite his written and verbal statements that he is "an openly gay man" who intends "to participate in a fully sexual way in any future relationship." Only one witness, the Rev. William F. Getman, pastor of Woodstown Presbyterian Church, testified in the case. Getman was a member of the presbytery's Committee on Preparation for the Ministry that recommended Van Keuren for candidacy. He said the committee talked with Van Keuren about his sexual orientation and his intentions. "He described himself as an avowed, practicing homosexual, but he indicated that at that time he was not practicing." Not eligible for ordination Getman said the committee told Van Keuren that if he remained insistent on being sexually active as a homosexual he would not be eligible for ordination under the denomination's "fidelity/chastity" clause, G-6.0106b in the Book of Order, unless the General Assembly changed the standard. He also said members of the committee suggested alternatives to being ordained as a Presbyterian, including the United Church of Christ, which does ordain practicing homosexuals. "We were reasonably satisfied that the individual (Van Keuren) understands he was not eligible at that time to become ordained," Getman said. "Yes, we made that quite clear." But Getman said he knew of nothing in the Book of Order that prohibited the presbytery from accepting Van Keuren as a candidate. He said G-6.0106b applies only to persons who are being considered for ordination. Statement of intention During cross-examination, Griffith read a Van Keuren statement from the record - "I intend to participate in a fully sexual way in any future relationship" - and asked Getman what kind of intention Van Keuren had expressed to the committee. Getman said Van Kuren had "indicated there will be the possibility of a relationship in the future." Griffith also asked Getman if the committee considered any constitutional documents. Getman said it had and concluded that Van Keuren was at that time chaste in his singleness. "We believe he was in compliance," Getman said. "Do you still believe that to be so?" Griffith asked. "Yes sir," Getman said. Final arguments During summation, Reisner said the case was not about Van Keuren or ordination. "It's about a candidacy," Reisner said. Reisner said he did not believe the complainants had met the burden of proof required to show that accepting a self-affirmed, practicing homosexual as a candidate for ordination violated the Constitution of the PCUSA. "We too agree it is not a case about Graham Van Keuren," said Griffith. "But we cannot lower the standards of the constitution to accommodate this candidate. What if he had gotten up and said, 'I'm not going to ordain women or I'm not going to ordain blacks.' "If he had said, 'I'm going to be celibate,' we wouldn't be here. But he said, 'I'm going to do it my way.'" Griffith said the Book of Order is "a document for all of us, not just some of us. That's why the complaint against the West Jersey Presbytery has to be sustained."

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