When the history of this epoch in the PC(U.S.A.) is finally written, I think just a few names will really stand out. One of those is Lisa Larges. Lisa has been a faithful Presbyterian, an exemplary candidate for ministry, and an extraordinary human being. For 23 years Lisa has shown extraordinary courage in answering God's call to ministry. And for 23 years, the PC(U.S.A.) has delayed, denied, and otherwise blocked her God-given call. Most of us would have given up long ago in the face of this injustice and prejudice. But Lisa has persevered. Her faithfulness is an inspiration to us all.
I rejoiced this past November when a majority of San Francisco Presbytery decided that her declared departure from G-6.0106b in the Book of Order did not violate the essential tenets of the Reformed faith. And I'm deeply angered by the delay of her ordination by yet another judicial stay.
I encourage everyone to read Lisa's "Statement of Departure from G-6.0106b And Affirmation of Essentials of Faith and Polity." It is one of the best summaries we have of why G-6.0106b distorts our theological tradition and must be changed or removed. Here is an excerpt:
The text of G-6.0106b continues by singling out one particular derived standard from the historic confessional standards, namely, "the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness."
By my conscience, faith and theology I cannot and will not accept the terms of this standard.
- It deliberately and intentionally denies the dignity and lived experience of same gender loving people.
- In so doing it raises one category of persons, heterosexual persons, above all others and thereby makes an idol of heterosexuality.
- Its formulation is based on a certain interpretation of Scripture to the exclusion of other interpretations, which are as sound, and held by faithful Christians within our church. (*)
- It imposes a false and impossible choice upon same gender loving persons by not recognizing faithful covenanted relationships between two persons of the same gender.
- It puts the church and its officers in an untenable position by failing to acknowledge the expanded definition of legal marriage as a "contract between two persons," as held at this writing, in the jurisdictions of six U.S. states.
- By elevating this standard above any others it has caused our church to be mired in inappropriate and scandalous inquiries into the sexual acts of persons seeking Ordained office.
- It removes sex from the context of intimacy and covenantal relationship and denies the fullness and richness of committed loving relationships between persons of the same gender.
- It denies the full humanity of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons by focusing solely and exclusively on one part of their lives.
- It distracts the church from seeking a deeper understanding of sexual ethics, so that sexual misconduct by officers of this church continues at an alarming rate.
- It puts upon the door of the church an "Unwelcome" sign for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons and their families.
- It props up and provides religious cover for acts of violence committed against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.
- It has caused schism within our church by driving out gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons who can not fellowship within a church which regards them categorically as inferior.
- It is a scandal to the Gospel and destroys the peace, unity and purity of the church.
In my own life, while I affirm the moral values of fidelity and chastity, I will not and cannot claim chastity in singleness unless and until fidelity between two persons of the same gender within a covenantal relationship is recognized.
I will not submit in any way to a reduction of who I am as a Lesbian to language about "practice," nor will I participate in perpetrating such a false and demeaning dichotomy upon
any other member of this church.
(*) "The interpretation of Scripture, we confess, does not belong to any private or public person, nor yet to any Kirk for pre-eminence or precedence, personal or local, which it has above others, but pertains to the Spirit of God by whom the Scriptures were written. When controversy arises about the right understanding of any passage or sentence of Scripture, or for the reformation of any abuse within the Kirk of God, we ought not so much to ask what men have said or done before us, as what the Holy Spirit uniformly speaks within the body of the Scriptures and what Christ Jesus himself did and commanded. …We dare not receive or admit any interpretation which is contrary to any principle point of our faith, or to any other plain text of the Scripture, or to the rule of love." Book of Confessions 3.18
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In July at the General Assembly, the PC(U.S.A.) will once again have the opportunity to affirm equal rights in ordination and marriage for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. The PC(U.S.A.) aspires to become, "The church reformed, always, reforming, according to the Word of God and the call of the Spirit." It is high time for us to live up to those words by granting Lisa's call to ministry.
