Lesbian’s ordination approved
The Layman, November 11, 2009
By a vote of 156 to 138, the Presbytery of San Francisco decided on Nov. 10 to approve the ordination of Ms. Lisa Larges, despite her declared “departure” from the fidelity and chastity requirement in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Constitution.
Larges’ ordination was recommended by the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry. “We had compelling and respectful conversation about the theological relationship between allegiance to Jesus Christ and/or to Scripture itself,” said the committee when reporting the rationale for its recommendation to the presbytery.
In her testimony before the presbytery, Larges made it clear that she would not obey the denomination’s constitutional standard (Book of Order G-6.0106b) that limits sexual relations to the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman. Specifically, she said she would not honor the standard’s language: “Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture …”
Larges argued that one’s ultimate allegiance is to Christ, not to Scripture, and that when following Christ and obeying Scripture are at odds, one must choose Christ over Scripture. “To lead a life ‘in obedience to Scripture,’” she said, “sets the authority of Scripture above the authority of Christ and returns us to life under law.”
“I will not and can not claim chastity in singleness unless and until fidelity between two persons of the same gender within a covenantal relationship is recognized” said Larges.
Larges based her departure from G-6.0106b on the following conclusions:
- the standards set forth at G-6.0106b do not express essentials of Reformed faith and polity;
- further, the standards expressed at G-6.0106b are indeed contrary to essentials of Reformed faith and polity and therefore
- to actively concur or passively submit to the standards expressed at G-6.0106b would require that I should elevate a flawed standard above standards of faith and polity which I understand to be essential.
During the presbytery’s three-hour discussion, the commissioners also validated Larges’ call as minister coordinator of “That All May Freely Serve,” a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender lobby organization operating within the PCUSA.
At the close of the meeting, more than one-third of the commissioners present signed a form requesting a “stay of enforcement” until a complaint against the presbytery’s decision can be adjudicated before the Synod of the Pacific Permanent Judicial Commission. The number of signatories was sufficient to block any ordination ceremony pending the outcome of the synod trial and any subsequent appeal that may carry it to the denomination’s highest court.