From the Christian Post:
An openly lesbian minister's bid to join the clergy may be the first national test of a controversial policy adopted by the Presbyterian Church (USA).
After being denied ordination twice over the past couple of decades because of a ban on ordaining openly gay persons, Lisa Larges made some headway this past week when she gained support from a regional body of the PC(USA).
The San Francisco Presbytery voted Tuesday 167-151 to support Larges' application for ministry. The vote came after a long debate and despite warnings that the action violated the church's constitution and would be appealed.
According to its constitution, the PC(USA) requires "fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman" or "chastity in singleness" for its clergy.
But Larges' third bid comes after the Presbyterian national assembly adopted an "authoritative interpretation" of the ordination standard in 2006 – a decision that opponents say allows some leeway to churches for homosexual ordination.
Larges' latest attempt is thought to be the first test of the 2006 policy, said Jerry Van Marter, news director for the PC(USA).
"I'm in shock," Larges, 44, said of the support she's receiving, according to The Los Angeles Times. "I still feel stunned, honestly, and deeply grateful both to the folks who supported me and to the presbytery for stepping up."
I pray that this is a step toward another major denomination opening the path or ordination up to ALL people willing to answer the call of God to serve Him.
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After having been a member of the PCUSA since 1995, I stopped attending Presbyterian worship services in 2006 in disgust at Presbyterians' unwillingness to treat nonstraight people as their equals. I'd be surprised if any openly gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender person is ordained by the PCUSA in my lifetime—and I'm 48.
ReplyDeleteCertainly being openly LGBT and being ordained to the ministry in the PC(USA) is rare, but it is not unheard of. One person who is both is the Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, a member of Hudson River (NY) Presbytery, who was ordained in 2005 as an openly gay man.
ReplyDeleteHe expressed his disagreement with G-6.0106b (the provision of the denomination's constitution that is intended to mean that LGBT people be blocked from the ministry or service to the church as elder or deacon). This all happened prior to the acceptance of the report from the Peace, Unity, and Purity Task Force a year and a half ago.
Ray serves as the interim pastor of Palisades Presbyterian Church, and is active in presbytery activities (see http://www.raybagnuolo.net/). No charges were filed over his ordination or installation.