 
Demonstration disrupts General Assembly meeting By Parker T. Williamson The Presbyterian Layman |
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CHARLOTTE – On the final night of the 210th Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly a demonstration in the Charlotte Convention Center disrupted what had been one of the most orderly legislative sessions in the denomination’s recent history. The 10:30 p.m. event was led by gay/lesbian activists and choreographed with the help of General Assembly staff whose actions were authorized by Moderator Douglas Oldenburg (see editorial, p. 2). In the spectacle that followed, commissioners reconsidered their decision to deny funding to the National Network of Presbyterian College Women (NNPCW), a controversial group that supports lesbian activity on college campuses. NNPCW was formed by Mary Ann Lundy and her associates at Presbyterian Church (USA) headquarters shortly before Lundy was fired for her role in the 1993 ReImagining Conference. Calling their work “evangelism,” NNPCW leaders produced materials for college women that encourage diversity in sexual behavior. Additional funding sought Dissatisfied with its $50,000 share of the General Assembly Council mission budget, the organization took a request for $273,000 over three years directly to the GA. That request opened the door for critics to showcase the group’s activities, leading to a decision not only to deny the request for additional funds, but to cut off all mission dollars to the organization. Commissioners voted 306-217 to deny sponsorship and funding for NNPCW, inviting the network to continue as an independent organization or to become an accountable component of the denomination’s campus ministries. But the late-night demonstration and subsequent events resulted in a new decision to give NNPCW a one-year extension, without any change in its current level of funding. The Assembly also instructed the General Assembly Council to appoint a seven-member committee to evaluate NNPCW’s resources, publications and program and report back to the 1999 GA. The demonstration On the eve of adjournment, after two attempts failed to get the Assembly to reconsider its action, Moderator Oldenburg announced to commissioners that he deeply regretted what the Assembly had done. Then he told the Assembly he would allow members of NNPCW “a moment of personal privilege.” A tearful young woman, Rebecca Morrison, stepped to the microphone and sparked the demonstration. An estimated 200 visitors, many of whom donned multi-colored stoles (a symbol for homosexuals who have been denied ordination), cascaded from the bleachers, held hands, and surrounded the commissioners. A small cluster of NNPCW members marched forward holding lit candles and lined up in front of the Assembly. The Assembly musician, Isaiah Jones, moved to his keyboard on stage and began to play “This Little Light of Mine” as lyrics to the song appeared on giant television screens suspended over the commissioners’ heads. The song, often used by homosexual demonstrators who call their effort the “More Light Movement,” was sung repeatedly as the young women stood crying before Assembly television cameras. Assembly’s action lamented At the conclusion of the demonstration, Oldenburg again gave the microphone to commissioners who requested a “moment of personal privilege.” Commissioners lined up at the microphones, some crying and others expressing anger and dismay that the Assembly had “cut these young women adrift.” One commissioner said “I deeply grieve … that we send them off without visible support and tell them that their life is over.” After several commissioners had spoken, some asking rhetorically, “What can we do about this?” the moderator suggested that a motion to reconsider would “be in order.” Further lamentations were expressed, but no motion was forthcoming. The moderator again invited commissioners to solve the problem with a motion to reconsider. At this point James Mead, vice moderator of the Assembly, stepped to the microphone and called for reconsideration. “I think we ought to hold people accountable,” he said, “but I don’t think we ought to squash the whole thing.” Mead’s motion was approved. As the first order of business on the Assembly’s final morning, Mead moved to have funding continued for one year and a review committee established. The Assembly approved Mead’s motion by a vote of 314-183 with 13 abstentions. Protests over demonstration Even so, there were protests over the demonstration and reconsideration. “What happened last night at 10:30 at this Assembly is a perfect example of what is wrong with the PCUSA, why people do not trust the General Assembly, and why persons leave the church,” said Cathy Northrup, a minister from Charlotte Presbytery. “The majority had voted at least twice on the issue before us, but the minority would not submit. They were allowed to demonstrate and several speakers were allowed to debate on one side under the guise of personal privilege, thus manipulating the entire GA.” After the vote, Oldenburg said, “Permit me a personal word. Yes I did know and I did give permission for the young women to come and express their deep pain ... I did not know what they were going to say. Trust me. I did not know there would be a motion to reconsider. Trust me, I did not. I don’t ask you to agree with the judgments that I make but I do ask you to try to understand.” Action called ‘unpresbyterian’ Following Oldenburg’s statement, several commissioners were allowed to voice their objection. Louise Holert of Seattle told commissioners, “I felt very sad last night and feel I need to share my pain with you as an Assembly. I felt emotionally violated and raped last night by the process that seemed unpresbyterian to me. I’ve heard what you said this morning, but we commissioners have lived with the decisions of our committees and the Assembly, and we have felt pain. Sometimes the vote has been lost by just one vote, but we’ve accepted the decisions even when we lost.” Holert concluded, “I leave this Assembly feeling betrayed by the system.” |
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The Presbyterian Layman, July/August 1998 contents |
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