Van Kuiken still a member of Presbytery of Cincinnati
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, July 31, 2003
A. Stephen Van Kuiken, who repeatedly defied church law by “marrying” same-gender couples, is still a member in good standing of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, pending the outcome of his appeal of a presbytery ruling.
But Van Kuiken is not in the pulpit of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, as some in the presbytery believed. “He doesn’t work here anymore,” a Mount Auburn worker said in response to a telephone call from The Layman Online.
The Presbytery of Cincinatti voted 119-45 on June 16 that Van Kuiken had renounced the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA) – in effect stripping him of his ordination and ousting him from the denomination. That vote came after a presbytery court ruled in April that Van Kuiken had violated church law by conducting services to “marry” same-gender couples. The court’s punishment was a public reprimand.
Van Kuiken appealed the presbytery court’s ruling to the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of the Covenant. With that case still pending, the synod court issued a stay of enforcement.
Soon after the reprimand, Van Kuiken conducted a service to marry two lesbians. That act of defiance led to the presbytery’s June 16 vote.
Meanwhile, a presbytery administrative commission continues to work with the session and congregation of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church to bring it into compliance with the PCUSA’s constitutional requirements.
So far, at least, that effort has not resulted in the session’s renunciation of a “Statement of Working Principles” that says the congregation will continue to defy church law.
The principles, adopted by the Mount Auburn session on Jan. 22, 2003, says in part: “We will welcome all persons, including gays, lesbians, transgender and bisexuals (GLBT), to the full ministry and life of our church. We will do so openly, protesting and declining to be governed by any provision, policy, report, ruling, amendment, or other statement anywhere in the life of our church and the PC(USA) that imposes discrimination, attempts to limit the love of God, or implies a second-class status of membership. Our inclusive witness is without compromise.”
The PCUSA allows – and encourages – homosexuals to be members of local congregations. However, it prohibits practicing homosexuals from serving as deacons, elders and ministers.
While the Van Kuiken case moves toward a conclusion, another complaint has been filed. The session of College Hill Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati has asked the presbytery to require that the session of Mount Auburn comply with church law. That case is a remedial action, which does not provide for punitive action against session members who might wish to maintain their anti-constitutional policies.