Commissioners vote to restore openly gay man to the ordained office of minister in the PCUSA
By Craig M. Kibler, The Layman Online, January 28, 2008
EDINA, Minn. – With very little discussion, commissioners in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area voted overwhelmingly Jan. 26 to restore an openly gay man to the ordained office of minister of Word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Earlier in their meeting, more than 350 people were in the sanctuary of Christ Presbyterian Church as commissioners approved a declared scruple to the “fidelity/chastity” ordination standard at the request of Paul Capetz, an openly gay former minister in the PCUSA.
Much of the discussion centered on the declared scruple, and there was only one comment before the question was called and the vote on restoration took place.
A man reminded commissioners that “there will be many consequences to what we do here today. As you make your decision about your vote on restoration, please understand how high the stakes are.”
Commissioners voted on the following motion:
“The Committee on Ministry recommends that Dr. Paul Capetz be restored to the exercise of ordained office of minister of Word and sacrament.”
Of the 278 written votes cast, 196 commissioners voted in favor of restoration; 79 voted against; and there were three abstentions. On a third action item, with no discussion, commissioners voted on the following motion:
“The Committee on Ministry recommends that Dr. Capetz’s service as associate professor at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, Minn., be validated.”
In a voice vote, commissioners overwhelmingly decided to validate Capetz’s service the United Church of Christ seminary.
Craig M. Kibler is the Director of Publications and the Executive Editor of The Layman and The Layman Online. He may be reached at cmkibler@www.layman.org.