Central Florida joins complaint
against John Knox Presbytery
By Edward Terry, The Layman, April 30, 2010
The Presbytery of Central Florida has joined members of John Knox Presbytery in its opposition to the Feb. 20 ordination of Scott Anderson, which critics have claimed is a violation of Presbyterian Church (USA) polity.
Central Florida voted 102-48 on April 27 at a special-called meeting hosted by First Presbyterian Church in Orlando, Fla., to stand with a congregation and several ministers and elders from John Knox Presbytery that filed the remedial complaint.
Signing the request for the called meeting were: pastors Michael Andrews of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Apopka, Fla., Michael Carey of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Satellite Beach, Fla., and David Swanson, Sam Knight, Case Thorp and Donna McClellan of First Presbyterian in Orlando, Fla.; and elders Bob Bullock of First Presbyterian in Orlando and Mitchell Drake of Trinity.
In anticipation of the April 27 meeting, Central Florida’s Stated Clerk Frank Allen offered in-depth background on the issue, an explanation of the action under consideration and the decision’s potential importance to the entire denomination.
“Some ministers and elders in Central Florida Presbytery think that this is an important issue for the larger church and that it warrants our consideration in a called meeting since the deadline for joining the complaint will have passed before our next stated meeting,” he said in his letter to presbytery members. “The ruling of the church courts on this case will have great impact not only on the ordination of this one person but also on the church at large. I sincerely and prayerfully ask for your attendance and participation at this called meeting of Central Florida Presbytery.”
Following the presbytery meeting, Allen told The Layman the debate was thoughtful and restrained. He also sensed the presbytery’s willingness to discuss the issue in a way that’s open and helpful, he said.
“Surprisingly some commissioners who were in favor of keeping G-6.0106b in the Book of Order spoke against the resolution because they did not think it advisable to get involved in the judicial process,” Allen said. “On the other hand there was at least one commissioner who is adamantly opposed to G-6.0106b and yet spoke for the resolution because he felt that we should follow mandatory behavior standards in the Book of Order until those standards are changed by a vote of the church.”
Another vote on G-6.0106b is expected at this summer’s General Assembly July 3-10 in Minneapolis, Minn.
At issue is the ordination of Anderson, an openly gay man involved in a long-term relationship with another man. He was approved for ordination by a 81-25 vote behind closed doors in Madison, Wis. He had scrupled the fidelity-chastity standard for ordination, saying that excluding homosexuals in committed relationships from the ministry is not Biblical or faithful. John Knox Presbytery defended its vote citing actions by the 2006 and 2008 General Assemblies that it believes open the door for such departures.
In its complaint to the Synod of Lakes and Prairies, the session of Caledonia Presbyterian Church in Portage, Wis., claims the action violates the PCUSA Book of Order and would create “constitutional chaos.” Five individual presbytery members also joined the remedial complaint, while the decision of John Knox Presbytery to ordain Anderson was publicly criticized by The Presbyterian Coalition.
While more have joined the John Knox complaint, a similar case in California has received support as well. Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church filed a remedial complaint against San Francisco Presbytery alleging an errant vote on Nov. 10, 2009 to ordain Lisa Larges. Larges is a self-proclaimed lesbian who refuses to comply with the PCUSA’s constitutional standards on sexual behavior.
In the weeks that followed, several churches and presbyteries offered support for the complaint. The list of governing bodies joining the case includes: San Joaquin and Santa Barbara presbyteries, as well as the sessions of Centerpointe Presbyterian Church in Pleasanton, Calif., Covenant Presbyterian in Boise, Idaho and Contra Costa Korean Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek, Calif. The list of complainants includes several San Francisco pastors and elders as well.
The San Francisco case could go before the Synod of the Pacific later this year.
In the John Knox case, others will have until mid-May to join the complaint to the synod’s permanent judicial commission. Complainants have until 90 days after the action to file.