Council: Committee for sexual minorities ‘not appropriate’ By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Volume 35, Number 3 Posted June 3, 2002 LOUISVILLE – The establishment of an advocacy committee for the concerns of sexual minorities is not appropriate in the Presbyterian Church (USA), according to the General Assembly Council. A commissioner’s resolution to the 2001 General Assembly in Louisville calling for the creation of the advocacy committee was referred by that assembly to the council for further study. The council’s recommendation will be voted on by the 214th General Assembly in Columbus, Ohio this June. During its April 26 meeting, the executive committee of the council based its decision on three factors: the historical precedent for advocacy committees; lack of clarity about the definition of sexual minorities; and ongoing costs. The denomination has an Advocacy Committee for Racial Ethnic Concerns and an Advocacy Committee for Women’s Concerns. Both were formed following reunion between the Presbyterian Church (US) and the United Presbyterian Church (USA) to support the work of the church and uphold existing assembly policies in racial justice and justice for women. “There is no clear General Assembly policy in the area of sexual minorities. An advocacy committee for sexual minorities is not needed until a General Assembly adopts clear policies that could be monitored,” reads the council’s recommendation. The recommendation also said there was no clear definition of “sexual minorities,” and while the original commissioners’ resolution seemed to define sexual minorities as gay, lesbian or bisexual individuals, the term “could be expanded to include other individuals with different sexual preferences.” Annual cost: $57,000 Furthermore, stating that an advocacy committee costs about $57,000 per year, the council’s recommendation said that “in a time of budget constraints, it does not seem prudent to create another ongoing cost.” In the original commissioners’ resolution, the advocacy committee was to: “be a prophetic voice for involving gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the formation of public policy, particularly where sexual orientation is a factor; “monitor and evaluate policies, procedures, programs and resources regarding the way in which they impact the status and position of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in the church and the world; “advocate for full inclusiveness and equity in all areas of the life and work of the church and in society as a whole.”

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