Presbytery allows congregation to defy Constitution
By Robert P. Mills, The Presbyterian Layman, December 8, 1998
The Presbytery of Northern New England has reversed its earlier decision instructing two of its congregations “to be in conformity with Book of Order G-6.0106b.” According to a report on PresbyCall, a website sponsored by the Covenant Network and New York’s First Presbyterian Church, a presbytery, by a vote of 46 to 32 on Dec. 5, “rescinds its action instructing the session of Christ Church to be in compliance with G-6.0106b.”
The Constitution defied
The reversal concerned an April, 1997 “Resolution of Dissent” adopted by Christ Church of Burlington, Vt., which declared, “we vow to continue welcoming persons living singly or in committed relationships, regardless of sexual orientation, into the life, membership and leadership of this congregation on an equal basis, including eligibility for election and ordination as a ruling elder or deacon.”
The congregation’s statement was made in response to the passage of Amendment B, now G-6.0106b of the Book of Order, which declared that candidates for ordained office must live in fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness. Christ Church labeled the constitutional provision “a thinly disguised and dramatic reflection of the Presbyterian Church’s hypocrisy regarding inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Christians in the full life of the Church.”
The resolution continued, “we condemn this action as adoption of bad polity which will serve only to further distrust, intolerance and chaos in the Church.
“Accordingly, as a matter of conscience, the session of Christ Church, Presbyterian, reaffirms it’s ‘More Light’ statement as adopted on March 4, 1984 and revised on November 8, 1992. By so doing, we vow to continue welcoming persons living singly or in committed relationships, regardless of sexual orientation, into the life, membership and leadership of this congregation on an equal basis, including eligibility for election and ordination as a ruling elder or deacon.”
The Constitution defended
Initially, Northern New England Presbytery voted to uphold the PCUSA Constitution. At its March, 1998 meeting the presbytery declared:
“While affirming the right of both Christ Church and Midcoast Church [of Topsham, Maine] to express their opinions and feelings regarding the eligibility requirements for ordination in the Presbyterian church (USA), the PNNE cannot affirm non-compliance with the Book of Order;
“Therefore, it instructs the sessions of both churches to be in conformity with Book of Order G-6.0106 as pertains to the ordination of elders and deacons and report such compliance to the PNNE by the March 1999 stated meeting.”
Complaints of irregularity
In rescinding its instruction to obey the Constitution the presbytery said it “acknowledges that Christ Church carries on a valid and sacred ministry in Burlington [and] that the [Resolution of Dissent’s] alleged inconsistencies in the Book of Order do exist.”
According to PresbyCall, “At the conclusion of the action, a vigorous protest was lodged with the Stated Clerk by conservatives, complaining that the action was irregular and in violation of the Church’s Constitution.”
If the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Northeast finds that an irregularity was committed by the presbytery, it could rule the presbytery’s action “null and void,” as the Synod of Lakes and Prairies did earlier this year with a similar act of defiance by Milwaukee Presbytery.