Co-champs of ‘diversity’ cancel out when
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, January 20, 2000
CHICAGO — Representatives of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians and More Light Presbyterians, co-champions of “diversity” in the Presbyterian Church (USA), recently canceled a commitment to attend an informal dinner with their adversaries on the ordination issue.
They sent their 11th-hour regrets because one of the invited guests was Parker T. Williamson, executive editor of The Presbyterian Layman.
Just before time to break bread, butter it and “dialogue” about their differences with renewal group representatives, the Covenant-More Light team telephoned the hosts, the Rev. and Mrs. Jerry Andrews, to say they would not show up. Andrews is moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition.
The dinner party was to be held Jan. 11. Mrs. Andrews had prepared the food and the table was set for 13 people — six from renewal organizations and seven from the Covenant Network and More Light Presbyterians.
No agenda for meeting
There was to be no agenda. Both Andrews and Laird Stuart, co-moderator of the Covenant Network, said during interviews with The Layman that the dinner was simply to discuss “how to have a conversation.” Only the Covenant and More Light representatives were no-shows.
Andrews and Stuart had both agreed to invite people outside their organizations. Andrews invited Williamson and three other renewal leaders. Stuart invited representatives of the Covenant Network and three More Light leaders.
But Stuart said that when the More Light leaders objected to Williamson’s attendance, the Covenant board decided that none of its “team” should attend. Stuart said the opposition to Williamson was two-fold: the fact that he would not agree to keep what happened at the meeting a secret — although Williamson did assure participants that he would honor “off-the-record” comments — and Williamson’s unwavering opposition to the efforts to overturn the denomination’s “fidelity/chastity” ordination standard.
The ordination standard, G-6.0l06b in the Book of Order, was approved in a national referendum of presbyteries in 1997 and reaffirmed as a constitutional standard in a second referendum in 1998. The vote margin was nearly 2-1 in the second referendum. The Covenant Network led the opposition to the ordination standard; the Coalition supported the standard.
Self-asserted traditionalism
In both campaigns, the Covenant Network sought to convince Presbyterians that it represented traditional Presbyterians — or the broad middle of the church. Renewal representatives say the outcome of the two national ballots shows that the Network is adrift well outside the mainstream.
The Covenant Network’s claims to represent the moderate middle have angered some of its own constituency. More Light leaders and other activists for the ordination of homosexuals registered vigorous opposition to the Covenant Network’s call for sabbatical in 1997. At an open forum sponsored by the Covenant Network during the 1999 General Assembly, numerous gay activists criticized the Network because it would not support a 1999 overture calling for removal of G-6.106b from the constitution.
‘Unity in Diversity’ advocated
Instead of supporting immediate vote on the ordination standard, the Covenant Network has voiced support for the “Unity in Diversity” conferences — which some see as a way to showcase its ideology at denominationally funded events.
Later in 1999 at its annual meeting, the Covenant Network gave prominence to homosexual activists, and it reestablished publicly the Network’s reliance on the left flank of the denomination. The change was so noticeable that More Light observers and the official Presbyterian press announced that the Network had “come out of the closet.”
The Network is providing legal and financial assistance to congregations that sought to ordain openly homosexual officers or who take exception to the constitutional ordination standard. The Network recently announced that it intends to press for a vote at the 2001 General Assembly to overturn the ordination standard.
Diversity a flagpole issue
Diversity — both theological and lifestyle — is a flagpole issue for both the Covenant Network and More Light Presbyterians.
More Light activists emphasize their commitment to diversity in a program called “Presbyterians Welcome,” a support group for homosexuals, bisexuals and people who have undergone sex-change operations. They also frequently appeal for a “seat at the table” with Presbyterians who do not share their views.
But when it came to an informal meal with Parker T. Williamson, both groups decided that diversity and dialogue didn’t apply to them.