The Mid-Atlantic Synod will meet on Saturday, March 27, in a special, called meeting in Richmond. And while the focus of the meeting is not crystal clear to everyone involved, concern about Stroud and a belief by some that Baltimore Presbytery has not acted properly regarding him seem to be at the heart of things.
C. Powell Sykes, pastor of Westminster church, Burlington, N.C., and one of the six synod commissioners who formally requested the called meeting, stated in an e-mail interview that the purpose of the meeting “is to correct constitutional violations by the synod council” in the way an earlier inquiry into Baltimore Presbytery’s handling of Stroud’s case was conducted.
Paul Rolf Jensen, a lawyer who has filed a series of complaints against Presbyterians he contends are not complying with the Constitution, in 2001 filed an accusation of heresy against Stroud in Baltimore Presbytery. In 2002, the committee investigating those allegations recommended to Baltimore Presbytery that no charges be brought against Stroud. At that point, Stroud, who is openly gay, said again that he could not in conscience comply with the “fidelity and chastity” standard “because to do so, for me, can come only at the price of denying my faith in God’s grace in Jesus Christ. My conscience will not allow me to do such a thing.”
The synod assembly will consider the report of a synod administrative review committee, which decided last October that Baltimore Presbytery’s investigation into the heresy charge against Stroud was procedurally correct. But Sykes argues that the synod council inappropriately limited the scope of the review committee’s inquiry — saying it was only allowed to consider three of the five issues listed under the “special administrative review” section of the Book of Order.
Sykes contends that the administrative review committee should have been allowed to consider not just whether the presbytery’s actions were procedurally correct but also whether “the proceedings have been faithful to the mission of the whole church” and whether “the lawful injunctions of a higher governing body have been obeyed.”
In other words, Sykes wants to open the door to a broader review of Baltimore Presbytery and its interactions with Donald Stroud.
The synod’s handling of this has certainly been convoluted. In October, the administrative review committee made its report, saying Baltimore Presbytery had been procedurally correct in its investigation of Stroud, and the synod council approved that report. Then in December, at a called meeting, the synod council reversed course and voted not to approve the report and to name a new administrative review committee. And in January it switched directions again — voting to set aside its December action and to once again approve the administrative review committee’s report.
Sykes and the others who called for the special synod assembly meeting on Saturday are asking that a new administrative review commission be appointed to consider “alleged irregularities” in Baltimore Presbytery’s procedures for admitting ministers, validating their ministries and exercising oversight over their work.
That call for discussion does not specifically mention Stroud, who works in a validated ministry with That All May Freely Serve, an organization that is trying to convince the PC(USA) to permit the ordination of gays and lesbians without requiring them to be chaste.
And, in the e-mail interview, Sykes stated that “the purpose of the meeting Saturday is NOT to discuss validated ministry in Baltimore Presbytery” and also that “the focus will not be on Don Stroud directly,” although Stroud’s ministry could be affected.
Some had predicted that scrutiny of Stroud’s ministry — and perhaps others serving in validated ministries with advocacy groups in the church — was likely, considering the recent flap in North Carolina over Parker T. Williamson, chief executive officer for the Presbyterian Lay Committee and executive editor of the Layman.
Western North Carolina Presbytery voted in a contentious meeting on Jan. 31 to say that Williamson’s work was not considered a validated ministry and to make him a member-at-large of the presbytery, over his strong objections. Williamson has filed a complaint, alleging irregularities, and has obtained a stay of enforcement from the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Mid-Atlantic Synod while that complaint is considered.
Some had speculated even before Western North Carolina Presbytery met on Jan. 31 that the likely repercussions for taking on Williamson would include challenges to others in validated ministry positions in other presbyteries, particularly those working with high-profile advocacy groups within the church.
In a telephone interview, Stroud said that in the call to discuss validated ministries at the synod meeting, “they don’t specifically mention me. They all sort of tiptoe around it,” but “I suspect that’s what it’s about,” and he intends to be at the meeting.
Stroud said he has been a member of Baltimore Presbytery since 1999; he transferred there from Hudson River Presbytery to work for That All May Freely Serve.
Stroud also said that no complaints of alleged irregularities involving ordination, validation of ministry or oversight of ministers have been brought against the presbytery, so what’s being asked for in calling the synod assembly to meet “leaves everybody guessing about what these alleged irregularities are … I do wonder in a way if this whole slant about looking into the process of validating ministries may be the fallout from the Parker Williamson thing.”
Last fall, as the administrative review committee was making its report, Sykes tried unsuccessfully to convince the synod council to look more broadly at whether Stroud’s statements regarding “fidelity and chastity” were in violation of the PC(USA) Constitution and whether Stroud had, in effect, renounced the denomination’s jurisdiction. Sykes also said he wanted the full synod to meet early this year “to deal with Baltimore Presbytery’s continued defiance of the Constitution.”
In asking for a new administrative review committee to be appointed, Sykes and the others who called for this meeting may be looking for a way to push the synod to to ask some basic questions of Baltimore Presbytery. Should the presbytery have permitted Stroud to become a member? Should his ministry with That All May Freely Serve properly be considered a validated ministry — especially since he has said he will not comply with all aspects of the constitution? What procedures does Baltimore Presbytery have for deciding what ministries should be validated, and for overseeing such ministries? Are those policies sufficient and were they followed in Stroud’s case?
According to Roger Harp, who is executive and stated clerk of the synod, six commissioners from the synod — three ministers and three elders — requested the called meeting, which will begin at 10 a.m. on March 27 at Overbrook church in Richmond.
Along with Sykes, the others who requested the session are ministers Bill Stewart of Coastal Carolina Presbytery and Ray Riddleberger of Peaks Presbytery, and elders Gilbert Broyles of Western North Carolina Presbytery, Lynn Burris of Charlotte Presbytery and Jack Dyer of Salem Presbytery. Sykes pointed out that five of the six are from North Carolina.
As of Monday, only 10 elders and 13 ministers from 12 of the synod’s 14 presbyteries had registered for the meeting. With 10 elders and 10 ministers required for a quorum, there remained some question whether enough commissioners will be present to hold the special session.
