2 more presbyteries approve overtures seeking to delete G-6.0106b, authoritative interpretation
The Layman Online, November 15, 2005
Two more presbyteries have approved overtures to the General Assembly in an effort to overturn the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s ordination standards and rescind its “authoritative interpretation” regarding homosexual behavior.
The Presbytery of Lake Michigan on Nov. 8 voted 78 to 35 to concur with the Heartland delete-B overture, according to a report on the Web site of More Light Presbyterians. They also reported that the Presbytery of Newton also approved a similar overture Nov. 8.
That brings the total of presbyteries sending such overtures to next year’s General Assembly to 10.
They were the fourth and fifth overtures on the issue to be approved since the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity released its report Aug. 25 recommending, among other things, that no further actions dealing with matters of ordination be taken.
The other presbyteries, the vote and the date their overtures were approved are:
- Presbytery of Genesee Valley, 77-22, on Sept. 27.
- The Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky, 88-36, on Sept. 17.
- The Presbytery of the Twin Cities, 101-39, on Sept. 13.
- The Presbytery of Des Moines, 42-34-2, on Aug. 20.
- The Presbytery of Detroit, 120-77, on June 28.
- The Presbytery of the Cascades, 92-61, on June 25.
- The Presbytery of Western Reserve, 64-39-4 by secret ballot, on May 23.
- Heartland Presbytery, 109-92, on April 19.
The overtures, similar to one defeated in 2004, will go to the 217th General Assembly, which will meet in Birmingham on June 15-22, 2006. The overtures, promoted by More Light Presbyterians and other gay activist groups, ask commissioners to:
- “1. Provide the following authoritative interpretation: Interpretative statements concerning ordained service of homosexual church members by the 190th General Assembly (1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the 119th General Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all subsequent affirmations thereof, have no further force or effect.
- 2. Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes: Shall G-6.0106b be stricken?”
The Authoritative Interpretation is a thorough assessment of what the Bible teaches about homosexual behavior. It unequivocally says that homosexual behavior is contrary to the will of God and that self-acknowledged, practicing homosexuals could not be ordained.
G-6.0106b is the Book of Order requirement that says candidates for deacon, elder and minister must demonstrate either fidelity within the marriage of a man and a woman or chastity in singleness to be eligible to serve as officers. The action, if approved by the General Assembly, would nullify the 1978 and 1979 Authoritative Interpretations – first adopted by the United Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church U.S. and later affirmed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) – and reaffirmed by later assemblies and court decisions after those predecessor denominations reunited in 1983.
In its rationale, the overture approved by the Presbytery of Lake Michigan states:
“The biblical values of inclusive welcome (Acts 10:28, 11:17) and love of neighbor (Romans 13:8-10) compel us to proclaim that we are committed to eliminating all barriers to the full participation of Presbyterians who are gay and lesbian in the life, witness, and ministry of the Church. “The Apostle Paul taught, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served. There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to everyone for their particular service. The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). We believe, as Presbyterians, the Holy Spirit speaks through the voice and the vote of a congregation or governing body when calling Deacons, Elders, and Ministers of Word and Sacrament. G-6.0106b of the Book of Order hinders the movement of the Holy Spirit in discerning call to church office. Furthermore, G- 6.0106b conflicts with the long-held standard set forth in G-6.0107, which states, “the government of this church is representative, and the right of God’s people to elect their officers is inalienable.”
“We uphold the words and ideals outlined by a majority of the Biblical scholars who were faculty members of our Presbyterian seminaries in their 2001 statement, “The Whole Bible for the Whole Human Family.” Their statement encourages us to interpret Biblical passages in light of the whole Bible, to be careful not to “wrest” passages out of context, to be mindful that the concept of homosexuality as we now understand it was not in the Bible, and to remember that it is Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Resurrected Savior, who is the Living Word of God. Furthermore, the statement reminds us “this debate often revolves around six passages that refer to same-sex relationships. On careful reading, these passages seem to be advocating values such as hospitality to strangers, ritual purity, or the sinfulness of all human beings before God.”
“This is consistent with the tone of The Confession of 1967, which states, ‘Confessions and declarations are subordinate standards in the church, subject to the authority of Jesus Christ, the Word of God, as the Scriptures bear witness to him. No one type of confession is exclusively valid, no one statement is irreformable. Obedience to Jesus Christ alone identifies the one universal church and supplies the continuity of its traditions” (Confession of 1967 – Preface). Furthermore, “The Scriptures, given under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are nevertheless the words of men, conditioned by the language, thought forms, and literary fashions of the places and times at which they were written. They reflect views of life, history, and the cosmos which were then current’ (Confession of 1967 – 9.29).
“Careful study of the gospel accounts shows that Jesus never once mentioned, let alone condemned, homosexuality. The four gospel accounts repeatedly tell the story of Jesus’ clear and unequivocal condemnation of self-righteousness, piety, hypocrisy, and the hoarding of wealth and resources. We ask, why then should we include those who are condemned by Jesus and yet exclude those whom Jesus did not condemn?”