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Presbytery’s decision to ordain gay man challenged

A formal challenge has been filed to the decision of John Knox Presbytery to ordain Scott D. Anderson, a gay man who has lived in a committed partnership for close to 20 years.

The presbytery voted 81-25 on Feb. 20 to ordain Anderson, who currently serves as executive director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Anderson worked as a Presbyterian pastor in California before setting aside his ordination in 1990, after two people from his congregation made his sexual orientation public.

On March 4, the session of Caledonia Church in Racine, Wis., and five Presbyterian ministers filed a remedial case against John Knox Presbytery with the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. They argue Anderson should not be ordained because he does not comply with the ordination standards of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which require those being ordained to practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.

The complaint also states that the presbytery should not have allowed Anderson to declare a “scruple” — basically a conscientious objection – to the fidelity-and-chastity standard. Under a procedure recommended by the Theological Task Force on the Peace, Unity and Purity of the PC(USA) – a task force on which Anderson served – and later approved by the General Assembly, a governing body can approve a candidates who declares a scruple if it determines that the objection doesn’t involve an essential of Reformed faith and polity.

During his examination by the presbytery, the complaint states, Anderson said “his relationship with his partner was exactly like a marriage except for procreation and that `he’d never taken a vow of celibacy.’ ”

Those who brought the complaint are asking for a stay of enforcement of Anderson’s ordination, which currently is scheduled for May 15.

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