Church to elect officers, possibly in violation of Book of Order
The Layman Online, November 22, 1999
Members of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Michigan, after being urged to refuse to implement the denomination’s fidelity/chastity ordination standard, elected a slate of officers Sunday.
The slate was proposed by the church’s nominating committee at the annual congregational meeting.
According to a letter sent to church members by the session, the nominating committee was advised by the session “to select candidates who are known as godly people with a demonstrated call and commitment to God’s work.”
“The Nominating Committee did not inquire of each candidate what their specific sexual relationship or activities have been. Such intrusive questions are now a recent addition to our Book of Order, our church’s constitution,” read the letter.
Calling Amendment B of the Book of Order a “controversial issue” that faces the denomination, the letter states that “this amendment to the Book of Order (G.6.0106b) states that persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
The letter, which includes the full text of Amendment B, continues, “Many see this amendment as discrimination against gays and lesbians as well as those who are divorced or engaged in certain significant relationships.”
The letter said the session voted in 1998 to join the Covenant Network of Presbyterians “to work within the church structure to get this divisive rule repealed. We cannot enforce this recently passed amendment without violating our informed conscience, faith and interpretation of our obligations. We believe that this divisive amendment will be repealed within the next few years. We hope that Memorial’s courage in refusing to implement this harmful rule will hasten that day.”
Dr. V. Bruce Rigdon, pastor, and members of the session led an “open discussion” Nov. 14 in the church chapel.
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