Presbyterians back gay ordination
State vote overwhelmingly favors letting homosexuals hold office
BY FRANK LOCKWOOD ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
CLARKSVILLE — Arkansas Presbyterians voted overwhelmingly Saturday for a constitutional amendment to allow noncelibate homosexuals to serve as deacons, elders and ministers in the Presbyterian Church (USA). The lopsided 116-64 vote surprised leaders of the Presbytery of Arkansas, a collection of nearly 100 congregations spread across central and northern Arkansas. “It tells me that there’s no predicting the Holy Spirit,” said Interim General Presbyter Sallie Watson, shortly after the vote. The presbytery, which has roughly 15,300 members, had narrowly rejected a similar proposal in 2001. The denomination’s Book of Order currently requires
ordained officeholders to “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” The amendment eliminates the language about sexual conduct. Instead, ordained officers would “pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ” and would “declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church.” Already approved by the denomination’s national General Assembly in June, the amendment will take effect if it’s approved by a majority, 87, of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries. Thus far, 24 presbyteries have voted “yes” and 39 have voted “no,” according to the Presbyterian Lay Committee, a doctrinally-conservative group that opposes ordaining noncelibate homosexuals. Saturday’s debate, which was held at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, was short and civil. Delegates, known as commissioners, were instructed to conduct themselves “decently and in good order” and the election results were greeted with silence. The 2.3 million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) has debated homosexuality since the 1970s. Like the United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Episcopal Church, Presbyterians remain divided over gay ordination. This was at least the fifth time that the Presbytery of Arkansas has debated the fidelity/ chastity standard since it was passed by the General Assembly in 1996. At Saturday’s meeting, speakers were given only one minute each to state their case. A loud beep sounded when the 60 seconds were up. The Rev. Jim Andrews, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Harrison, said the amendment’s language is “sound theology” and urged commissioners to support it, adding, “I hope that the spirit of the church is listening to the spirit of God and that we pass this amendment.” But Danny Thomas, an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, opposed it. “I believe we’ve been shooting ourselves in the foot by continuing to debate controversial social issues,” he said. “I believe this change will tear our church apart.” Immediately after the vote results were announced, elder Jerry Jackson of First Presbyterian Church in Beebe got up quietly and headed for the parking lot. “I’m seriously considering whether I want to be a Presbyterian or not,” he said. “I’ve been one for 40 years now, but I think I may look at being something else.” But the Rev. Bill Bailey, pastor of Kirk of the Pines in Hot Springs Village, welcomed the decision. “I’m all in favor of it. It’s a good vote,” he said. “It’s a vote for full inclusion of our gay brothers and sisters.” While the national church continues to debate homosexual ordination, Little Rock’s Second Presbyterian Church is already considering an openly gay man for ordained ministry. Michael Upson, a bell choir member, acolyte program coordinator and Christian education volunteer, has been a member of Second Presbyterian Church for eight years. At a congregational meeting today, Upson will be on the slate of candidates for deacon who have been endorsed by the church’s nominating committee.