More could join San Francisco complaint
By Edward Terry, The Layman, February 23, 2010
A complaint is again before the Synod of the Pacific’s Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) contesting the Presbytery of San Francisco’s action to ordain Lisa Larges, a lesbian candidate for ministry. However, the list of complainants could grow before the case is even heard.
At least two presbyteries and one session approved a joinder supporting the complaint by seven San Francisco elders claiming a presbytery vote on Nov. 10, 2009 to ordain Larges is a violation of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s constitution.
“An examining governing body may not allow a candidate to exercise her freedom of conscience if doing so ‘ignore(s) or waive(s) a specific standard of behavior that has been adopted by the whole church such as the ‘fidelity and chastity’ portion of G-6.0106b or any other similarly specific provision,’” the complaint states. “The vote of the presbytery was irregular because it resulted in an unconstitutional result … approving the ordination of a candidate who, by her refusal to comply with mandatory ordination standards established by the whole church for the whole church, is ineligible for ordination as set forth by the Book of Order.”
So far, the presbyteries of Santa Barbara and San Joaquin have joined the complaint, as well as the session of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church in the Presbytery of San Francisco.
The complaint is the latest judicial challenge to a more than two-decade effort by Larges, described in court documents as a “self-avowed and unrepentant lesbian,” to obtain ordination in the PCUSA. Larges declared a scruple to the fidelity-chastity standard in the PCUSA Book of Order, which requires ordained officers be faithful in marriage between one man and one woman, or chaste in singleness.
Following the 156-138 vote to ordain Larges despite her departure from G-6.0106b, more than a third of the San Francisco commissioners signed a stay of enforcement request allowing an appeal to be made to the synod’s PJC. A stay of enforcement means that the ordination cannot proceed prior to a court ruling.
For Mary Naegeli, counsel for the complainants and a party to the previous challenge to Larges’ ordination, it’s a far-reaching issue every presbytery should be watching.
Naegeli said those who aren’t content to just watch are signing on to send a message that other presbyteries and sessions expect fellow Presbyterians to uphold constitutional standards. Naegeli said several more bodies are considering action to join the complaint, which can occur until the trial begins.
In its answer to the complaint, the Presbytery of San Francisco denies the accusation and argues that Larges’ departure from G-6.0106b isn’t “serious” enough to disqualify her from ordination. It also cites Authoritative Interpretations from 2006 and 2008 in its defense.
“In interpreting how various provisions of the Book of Order interact with each other, the General Assembly in 2006 and 2008 made clear that the Constitution requires a presbytery to apply all ordination standards in light of our constitutional commitment to mutual forbearance, where the presbytery determines that a candidate’s conscientious departure from a standard is not so important that it renders the presbytery and the candidate incapable of communion with each other (that is, ‘essential’),” the respondent stated.
Naegeli doesn’t anticipate the Synod of the Pacific hearing the case until late this year, based on its current meeting schedule.
On Naegeli’s Web site, www.pcusastandards.org, is additional information about the case, as well as information for those wanting to join as a complainant.