Session dares clerk to enforce constitution
The Layman Online, March 11, 2002
The session of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati has dared Presbyterian courts and the stated clerk of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to intervene against its ringing dissent from the denomination’s constitution.
In separate statements that were directed to Clifton Kirkpatrick, the PCUSA’s stated clerk, and others, the Mount Auburn session declared:
- “… in practice, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church has not and cannot comply with G-6.0106b of the Book of Order. Further, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church has ordained and will continue to ordain self-acknowledged gay men and lesbian women who live or have lived in singleness or in committed same-sex partnerships, and has promoted and will continue to promote their full participation in all aspects of church life.”
- “That marriage between two persons, man and woman, or a man and a man, or woman and woman, is the same in the eyes of the session of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church.”
The session dated its statement on the ordination standard Feb. 27 and its declaration on homosexual marriages Feb. 28.
The constitutional standard that prohibits the ordination of self-affirming, practicing homosexuals as ministers, elders and deacons has been affirmed repeatedly – currently by 73 percent of the denomination’s presbyteries.
Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick has called it the “law of the church,” but has taken no action against Mount Auburn or other congregations that openly defy the standard.
The denomination’s constitution recognizes marriage only as a union between a man and a woman – not two people of the same gender. The denomination’s highest court, in authorizing sessions to approve services to bless same-gender couples, specified that the services must not resemble a marriage or constitute approval of homosexual activity.
The Mount Auburn session even called on the congregation’s nominating committee “to provide fair representation [on its session and diaconate] as well in sexual orientation and in other areas of significant human difference.”
In its statement on marriage, the Mount Auburn session said, ” … we resolve that Christian marriage services be held in our church for homosexual as well as heterosexual couples. Heterosexuals must meet the legal requirements of the state and have a license and meet the general requirements and counsel provided in the Directory of Worship.
“Homosexuals because they cannot receive a license from the State, do not need a license but will meet the age requirement of the State and the requirements and counsel provided in the Directory of Worship. Homosexual couples shall further be counseled in developing what legal safeguards there are available to protect their commitment and the benefits accrued in their mutual life together.
“This statement is to make clear that the Session considers marriage an egalitarian institution of faithful commitments by two persons for mutual love and companionship. Its promise is for an enduring relationship through good and difficult times, in joy and sorrow, sickness and health. It is for intimate friendship, encouragement, counsel and support, and it produces many goods, which may or may not include children. All of these good things can be and are achieved by same-sex couples as well as heterosexual couples.”