Special meeting scheduled June 16 in Cincinnati on Van Kuiken case
The Layman Online, June 9, 2003
The Presbytery of Cincinnati, in response to continued defiance of the constitution by the pastor of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, has scheduled a special meeting tonight to determine if he has renounced the jurisdiction of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. June 16 at Lakeside Presbyterian Church.
On April 21, the Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken was rebuked by the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Cincinnati. The commission ruled that he had “been found guilty of the offense of performing same-sex marriage ceremonies, and by such offense you have acted contrary to the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).” Using the language of the highest court in the denomination, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, the ruling also stated:
“You are directed to perform marriage ceremonies only for a man and a woman. If you perform service of holy union, you are directed to take special care to avoid any confusion of such services with Christian marriage. You shall not appropriate specific liturgical forms from services of Christian marriage … You shall instruct same-sex couples that the service to be conducted does not constitute a marriage ceremony and should not be held out as such.”
Van Kuiken, who has appealed the ruling, said at the time that he would continue to perform marriages for couples regardless of sexual orientation, even though “my actions – performing ceremonies for same-sex couples that are Christian marriages or their equivalent – are a violation of our church law.”
On May 17, he again violated the constitution and defied the commission’s order by performing a “marriage” service at Mount Auburn for a same-gender couple, Meghan Kaskoun and Melinda Tarter. The bulletin for the ceremony was titled “A Service of Christian Marriage,” vows and rings were exchanged and Van Kuiken made “an announcement of marriage.”
In a June 4 letter to all members of the presbytery informing them of Monday’s special meeting, Moderator Melissa Bane Sevier said that its purpose is to act on the Committee on Ministry’s recommendation to presume the Rev. A. Stephen Van Kuiken’s renunciation of jurisdiction (G-6.0502).”
She said the Committee on Ministry’s recommendation was based several items. The full text of Sevier’s list is as follows:
1. The Presbytery’s Permanent Judicial Council (PJC) in its April 21 decision, found the Rev. Van Kuiken guilty of having “performed and/or condoned and facilitated the performance by others of same-sex marriage ceremonies at the Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church (USA) W-4.9001.” The Rev. Van Kuiken was rebuked and “directed to perform marriage ceremonies only for a man and a woman.”
- a. On April 25, two members of the Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, along with the Presbytery’s Acting General Presbyter, met with Rev. Van Kuiken. At the meeting, they reminded him of the decision of the PJC. He acknowledged its content and said he understood it.
- b. At the regular meeting of the presbytery on May 13, the stated clerk read the entire decision of the PJC. Rev. Van Kuiken was present at the meeting.
- c. On May 17, Rev. Van Kuiken sent an e-mail to the chair of the PJC, stating: “Given the rebuke, I feel compelled to inform you and the PJC that I have officiated at another same-sex Christian marriage today, Saturday, May 17.” He attached a copy of the bulletin from the service.
2. To act on the Committee on Ministry’s recommendation that the presbytery concur with Administrative Commission 02-01’s request for expanded powers to address emerging circumstances at Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church.”