GA marriage committee finalizes
report; minority report expected
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman, January 29, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage approved its final report Jan. 24 – with three members voting against it.
The Rev. Tracie Mayes Stewart, Rev. William (Bill) Teng and Elder Lisa Cooper Van Riper announced their intentions to file a minority report to the committee’s final report. Related Articles
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The following morning, committee members voted to reconsider the report, and after making several changes throughout, voted again to approve it. This time there were only two votes against, since Stewart left early because of a death in the family.
The recommendations of the final report include:
- Commending the report to sessions and presbyteries for study of the issues, and using the paper’s covenant as a guide for discussion.
- Affirming the call to extend Christ’s compassion to all and encouraging Presbyterians to be diligent in providing care to all.
- Encouraging presbyteries and sessions to provide resources “consonant with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)” regarding the use of church facilities for marriages and blessing ceremonies; and for presbyteries to provide resources – “consonant with the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)” – regarding clergy participation in marriage and/or same sex ceremonies.
Directing several denominational entities to update guidelines on the differences between “a ceremony of Christian marriage and a same sex union ceremony.” - Encouraging sessions to conduct studies on Biblical interpretation using the General Assembly papers “Presbyterian understanding and use of Holy Scripture” and “Biblical Authority and Interpretation.” It also recommends denomination entities develop a study guide on the two papers for sessions to use.
The recommendations on Biblical authority are based on words from the report’s conclusion: “… Our different ways of interpreting the Bible and other foundational texts have left us deeply divided about the conclusions we draw from these sources of guidance.”
Elsewhere the report states “We recognize that our interpretations of Scripture lead us to different conclusions regarding homosexual behavior and same-gender partnerships. We hold that the Christian life is one of sanctification, and we confess that Scripture holds out a transforming hope to radical change in Jesus Christ that requires us to be dead to sin and alive to all that is good. For some of us, that means same-gender couples should be encouraged to abstain from sexual relations; for others of us that means that same-gender couples should be encouraged to enter into faithful, covenanted, lifelong partnerships.”
Under the Biblical and historical summary, the report says “that in matters of faith and practice the church turns to Scripture to hear the testimony of the Holy Spirit, acknowledging that it comes to us in human words, conditioned by the times in which they were written, times different from our own. … In our study, considerable differences became apparent in understanding what the words of the Bible and confessions say. Our committee’s differences reflect similar difference within the denomination.”
Substitution motions fail
While deliberating on the proposed report, Van Riper tried to substitute wording from the section titled “What is the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community” to the end of the report. Her proposed “faithful answer” to the question read in part, “Our bodies are the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. We must use our bodies within God’s design. … Those relationships whether same or opposite gendered, that although committed and caring, which are outside God’s design of sexual expression, cannot be encouraged or blessed.”
Her substitute also drew attention to the issue of the interpretation of Scripture. “The ongoing controversy around this issue and others will not be resolved until consensus is reached on the interpretation of Scripture. Unity cannot be reached through polity inventions. Unity will only be reached though common affirmation of truth.”
Van Riper’s motion failed.
Stewart also failed at proposing new language for the report. Her motion read, “Love is never about license and for too many years our dear Presbyterian church has been silent as the carnage of sexual hedonism engulfs our culture. Let us offer to boldly proclaim that God has a place for sex. It is within marriage between a man and woman and that commitment is for life. Let us work to support, encourage and nurture those who are not married and help them know that God’s plan for them is just as important as God’s plan for married people. Let us hold up celibacy and honor those who practice it as engaging in a profitable and special spiritual discipline which may be life-long or for a season of life. Holding us all to the same Biblical standard will help strengthen the peace, unity and purity of the PCUSA and help us all grow in the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Those voting in the majority for the committee’s report expressed their unhappiness that a minority report might be filed.
Rev. Emily J. Anderson, pastor of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Tenn., sought to delete the committee’s covenant from the report, because “we’re talking about unity,” in the covenant and yet a minority report is a possibility.
The words of the covenant – which Anderson voted in favor of – contradicted the intention of her motion.
The final sentence of the deletion she requested read, “We covenant together to honor who we are as Presbyterians by respecting the fallible discernment of the body, bearing in mind that individual conscience, held captive to the Word of God, cannot be thus bound.”
In the section “steps toward mutual forbearance” the report reads, “our disagreements do not negate our unity. Threats of departure or coercive ways of achieving uniformity are ultimately unhelpful and do little more than draw lines and force us to become more deeply entrenched in our positions and prejudices.”
The Rev. James (Jim) Szeyller, chair of the committee and pastor at Carmel Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, N.C., disagreed with Anderson. While at first he was disappointed in the possibility of a minority report, he said he was now at a different place. “Our unity was not in our conformity. Our unity was about being committed to the table, and yet even when we disagree, we still remain at the table … Our process that we are given does not dictate conformity, it allows for agreement and disagreement.”
In his opinion, the presence of a minority report shows there is disagreement among committee members, “which is exactly what the covenant says we can do.”
Teng, pastor at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, Va., was one of the members who filed an intent to propose a minority report. He said that “the covenant is us agreeing to stay at the table and not walk away.” Teng continued that walking away is an option, and while not questioning the motives of cons
ciences of those who leave, “it is more difficult to stay at the table. … I am committed to you and I am committed to the work of our church.”
“We are staying through this process all the way to the General Assembly,” said Van Riper, adding that her belief was by having a minority report and showing two sides of the issues, “you will find more voices who are willing to come to the table.”
When Anderson tried to withdraw her motion, Elder Luis Antonio (Tony) De La Rosa objected, saying he wanted to vote on the motion. The vote against deleting the covenant was unanimous.
The report
The committee’s report includes:
- An introduction that gives the background for the committee and its purpose. It also includes a chart outlining the differences between civil marriage, redefined civil marriage, civil union/domestic partnership and Christian marriage in the PCUSA.
- A Biblical and historical summary that references Scripture from the Old and New Testaments. It also references the Reformation, the confessions and recent developments in marriage law.
- A section on “the relationship between civil marriage and Christian marriage,” which ends with the statement, “… some think that such [civil] unions cannot adequately substitute for marriage, fearing that the socially indeterminate matter of civil unions may even encourage impermanence among such couples.
- Others see it as a helpful compromise in a polarized and polarizing debate. While there may be significant, small populations for whom a civil union is a useful contract, civil unions, as qualitatively different from marriage, cannot fully make peace between those who view homosexual practice differently.”
- A section on “the effects of current laws on same-gender partners and their children.” The section includes four different perspectives on public values, a discussion of census figures, the variety of state laws and current research.
- In a section on the “the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community,” the report acknowledges that “members of the PCUSA cannot agree. We affirm that individuals in same-gender relationships, no differently from any other persons in the Christian community – are called to be transformed by the radical and redeeming love of Jesus Christ. Still, some believe acceptance of same-gender partnerships to be tantamount to approving homosexual practice, which they find at odds with Scripture and our confessions. Others have no difficulty accepting same-gender partnerships, pointing to Biblical principles of love and justice.”
- A conclusion that offers “to the church the work we have done together in two forms – a report and a call to covenant. Far more than commending our work, we entreat the Presbyterian Church (USA) to affirm the covenant life that Christ provides for us, a covenant life marked by reconciliation. … The question before us is not what issue will define us at any given moment, but whether the PCUSA can confess that our unity in Christ supersedes any other claim or argument that vies for our attention.”
- The recommendations, listed above.
The final report, which is now posted in its entirety to the Office of General Assembly Web site, will be considered by the 219th General Assembly (2010) meeting July 3-10 in Minneapolis, Minn.