The post previous to this, filled with alphabet soup of sections from esoteric sounding tomes such as "The Book of Order" and "The Confessions" amounts to this:
At our semi-annual Big Meet-Up, taking place as I type this in San Jose, a committee has voted-- by the largest margin a committee has ever voted on this matter-- to remove language from our constitution that has sought to prohibit LGBTQ folks from being ordained to ministry.
It has sought to do so. It has failed miserably. Throughout this denomination faithful people are trying to serve the church and live good lives, all the while living in relationships with persons of the same sex. They're everywhere-- closeted and uncloseted, pastors, elders and deacons. They're already here. They're already serving God and the church and the people with all the energy, intelligence, imagination and love they can gather. They're doing it quietly, or loudly. In some places they are able to be more open than others.
This language has been in our consitution the entire time I have been a Presbyterian (it preceded me by two years). It's time to remove it. It's well past time. It never should have been.
Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
his praise in the assembly
of the faithful.
Rainbow stole by "Bless My Stole."
9 comments:
so - how likely is it that the...petition (overture?) will be ratified?
A friend who observed the committee's work says the margin of the vote is a strongly positive sign... the church has tried to remove this language before, twice, but it failed when it was sent to the presbyteries for their concurrence. So now... who knows? But I hope (believe) this time it may work.
This has got to be frustrating - I pray for all of the LGBT people in not only ministry, but in faith who feel that they must hide.
At least in your church and TEC there are people talking about it.
As a Catholic - well you know... Deep sigh.
I hope that this can get resolved reasonably and soon.
yes, what they all are saying.
Thinking of you! May justice roll down like water.
You and I became Presbyterian at about the same time. Coming from a much more conservative denomination, at the time, I took it for granted that the PC(USA) wasn't hung up on this issues. Boy was I wrong!
I wish I was as optimistic as you about how things will go if it's sent to the Presbyteries. I'll lean on your faith...and pray.
So what is the next step? I'm not at all familiar with the polity of the Presbyterian Church. From your posts, it sounds like it will go forward to other bodies (individual churches?) for a vote?
Suzer, yes; now it goes to the Presbyteries for assent: 50% need to approve it.
Pray, people, pray!
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