Stroud, a gay man and a commissioner to the 213th General Assembly (2001), works for That All May Freely Serve, an organization trying to push open the doors of ordination to gays and lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered persons. Stroud has been the subject of a disciplinary case in Baltimore Presbytery, brought by Paul Rolf Jensen, a lawyer from Virginia who has aggressively initiated cases against individuals he contends are defying the part of the ordination standards requiring fidelity for those who are married or chastity for those who are single.
In response to Jensen’s complaint, an investigating committee appointed in Baltimore Presbytery earlier this year declined to bring charges against Stroud. After that decision, Stroud continued to say publicly that he cannot in conscience comply with the “fidelity and chastity” standard. Jensen has asked the presbytery’s permanent judicial commission to review the investigating committee’s decision, and a ruling on that question is expected soon.
Meanwhile, the synod has decided to create an administrative review committee to examine the presbytery’s actions regarding Stroud, in response to two letters sent to the synod’s stated clerk asking that it take action, according to H. Davis Yeuell, chair of the synod council. The synod council is expected to select the members of that review committee when it meets Nov. 15, and the committee should begin its work by early December, Yeuell said. The administrative review committee will examine the records of the presbytery’s actions regarding Stroud.
