Synod commission rules:
Gay candidate moves one step closer to ordination
By Jason P. Reagan, The Layman, September 29, 2011
The ordination of an openly gay candidate as a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister came one step closer to reality after a synod-level tribunal found that a California presbytery made no errors in approving the ordination.
On Sept. 17, the Synod of the Pacific’s Permanent Judicial Commission (SPJC), found that the Presbytery of San Francisco ruled correctly in its decision to ordain ministerial candidate Lisa Larges in 2009, ruling in favor of the presbytery in two remaining claims of error after the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) remanded the case to the synod-level commission. The GAPJC ruled in the presbytery’s favor in nine of 11 other points in August.
At the time of Larges’ request for ordination, standards in the PCUSA Book of Order required ordained ministers to live in chastity in singleness or fidelity in marriage, effectively banning homosexual relationships.
In 2004, Larges informed the presbytery that she was involved in a same-sex relationship and later filed a statement of departure from the chastity-fidelity clause although by that time she said she was no longer in the relationship.
After the presbytery affirmed Larges’ ordination by a vote of 156-138, a group, including Eric Parnell, Bruce McIntosh and the session of Walnut Creek Presbyterian Church, filed a remedial complaint (Parnell (et. al.) v. Presbytery of San Francisco) against the presbytery in 2009. The synod PJC affirmed the presbytery’s decision in 2010 and the complainants appealed to the GAPJC alleging the commission made 11 errors in affirming the ordination.
Two of those errors, the GAPJC said, involved complaints that Larges’ ordination violated Scriptural and confessional standards, about which the synod PJC did not rule in 2010.
“Since the doctrinal issue is central to the appellants’ case, it was error for the SPJC not to expressly rule upon the issue,” the August GAPJC decision stated. The case was remanded back to the synod to rule on the errors.
In its most recent ruling, the SPJC claimed the presbytery “did not commit doctrinal error in its decision to accept the departure and to ordain the candidate” because “interpretations of Scripture and the confessions, and the conclusions that result from those interpretations, have not been uniform in the history and practice of the Church,” with regard to homosexual behavior.
The SPJC claimed that since there were conflicting interpretations of Scripture presented during hearings, the presbytery had the right to choose which interpretation to use.
“We are doomed as a Presbyterian people, if it takes only two scholars to disagree on a doctrinal point to disqualify an orthodox doctrine as non-essential,” lead Parnell lead attorney Mary Naegeli said in a blog posting immediately after the decision was announced.
“For all practical purposes, this negates the concept of theological essentials at all,” she said, adding, “Since many of the elements of our faith are under discussion—the person and work of Jesus Christ, the meaning of the atonement, the resurrection, for starters—can we be sure of nothing at this point? If we have no essentials, our confessions are meaningless.”
The SPJC ordered the stated clerk of the Presbytery of San Francisco to report the decision at its next meeting. Larges’ ordination will be affirmed unless the SPJC’s decision is appealed within the next 45 days.
Naegeli said the Parnell complainants have not ruled out an appeal.
Dissent
Not all of the commissioners agreed with the final decision.
Commissioners Melvin Khachigian, Jean McClain and Kenneth M. Robbins penned a six-page dissent – nearly half of the 13-page decision – and found that, concerning the question of establishing the Scriptural view on homosexuality, “the evidence is overwhelming.”
In referring to the 394 pages of expert testimony concerning Scriptural interpretation presented, the commissioners said: “The church, and before that the Jewish law and traditions, have, throughout all of the ages until about 50 years ago, universally and singularly condemned homosexual acts as a violation of God’s law.”
“It is only within the last 50 years or so that some scholars have began to differ on that view. We are not persuaded by the evidence presented in the Scriptures themselves and in the testimonial evidence that such new interpretations represent an accurate view of the Scripture,” they added.
In bolstering their point, the dissenters recalled testimony by Dr. Dale Bruner, retired professor of Whitworth College.
Bruner stated: “I recognize there are only six or seven references to this problem. How many times does God have to say it to be influential? Scripture is equivocal, it’s equivocal on marriage, on women, on slavery, on a bunch of issues. On homosexuality it’s unequivocal, and I find that quite compelling.”
The commissioners agreed: “It is quite compelling that multiple books in both the Old and New Testaments from different authors and sources in different times and cultures, all agree that homosexual practice violates God’s law.”
In considering the confessional standards at issues, Khachigian, McClain and Robbins said, “the confessions speak volumes about marriage and universally condemn sexual practices which are considered perversions, specifically sodomy, a homosexual practice” specifically stating that the Heidelberg Catechism, which had been debated by some scholars, condemns homosexual practice.
“We, therefore, would find that under the Scriptures and as expressed in the confessions, homosexual behavior is sinful behavior in need of confession and redemption, no more, but certainly no less, than any other sin,” the dissenting commissioners said.
Reaction
Supporters of Larges celebrated the ruling online last week.
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians said the group “rejoices” in the SJPC decision. More Light Presbyterians asked their “siblings in faith to refrain from delaying her ordination through legislative action.”
The Covenant Network, in an online release, criticized the three SPJC dissenters: “According to their dissent, anyone who does not accept their conclusion that Scripture and the confessions condemn all same-gender practice is incapable of responding in the affirmative to all the ordination promises. Such a position would disqualify thousands of Presbyterians from serving in ordered ministry.”
“If we have no confessional orthodoxy, there is no basis for discipline,” Naegeli said in response to the ruling. “In one fell swoop, the Synod PJC wipes out the hallmarks of the Presbyterian faith in San Francisco Presbytery.”
Efforts to reach the Presbytery of San Francisco for comment were unsuccessful.
In related news …
In Wisconsin, Scott Anderson will soon become the first openly gay candidate ordained following the passage of Amendment 10A.
Like Larges, Anderson was ordained after admitting to a 19-year partnership with another man and claiming that his actions were not in violation of Scriptures or any confessions.
In 2010, Anderson was approved for o
rdination by John Knox Presbytery of Wisconsin. In October, the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Permanent Judicial Commission affirmed the presbytery’s ordination approval.
Caledonia Church of Portage, Wis. challenged Anderson’s ordination (Session of Caledonia (et. al.) v. Presbytery of John Knox) and after their appeal was dismissed at the synod level, appealed to the GAPJC. In August, the commission ruled that the appeal was moot in light of the passage of Amendment 10A in May. The amendment deleted the chastity and fidelity clause from the Book of Order.
In a press release, the Covenant Network said: “Scott’s ordination as a teaching elder offers a sign of hope for the many people who have long worked for a more inclusive church policy toward the ordination of our gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered brothers and sisters.”
In a dissenting opinion, GAPJC Commissioner William E. Scheu said: “Had the passage of Amendment 10A not occurred prior to the hearing of this case, I would have voted to reverse the decision of the SPJC by which it affirmed the action of the presbytery in granting to [Anderson] a departure,” adding that such decisions may “lead to ordination examinations that take the meaning of Scripture and the Confessions seriously and honestly, so that the peace, unity and purity of the church may be upheld and nourished.”
According to the presbytery, Anderson is slated to be ordained Oct. 8.