The presbytery voted 156-138 in November 2009 to allow Larges to be ordained even though she declared a “scruple,” or an objection based on conscience, to the PC(USA)’s requirement that those being ordained practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single.
Larges, a lesbian and a graduate of San Francisco Theological Seminary, has sought for two decades to be ordained by the church. In her statement of faith presented to the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, Larges wrote that the “fidelity and chastity” standard “deliberately and intentionally denies the dignity and lived experience of same-gender loving people,” and gives them an “impossible choice” by not honoring their faithful, covenanted partnerships.
She also wrote that the standard “raises one category of persons, heterosexual persons, above all others and thereby makes an idol of heterosexuality.”
The synod permanent judicial commission ruled Sept. 25 that San Francisco Presbytery had “conducted a reasonable, responsible, prayerful, and deliberate examination” of Larges.
The General Assembly has passed an authoritative interpretation saying that a governing body can allow such exceptions to the rules on a case-by-case basis if it determines that the departure does not involve an “essential” of Reformed faith or polity.
The synod judicial commission said it accepted the presbytery’s determination that Larges’ conscientious objection to the “fidelity and chastity” standard in this case did not violate an essential of Reformed faith and polity.
The commission also urged the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission — the church’s highest court — to provide “guidance and direction” on the complicated questions involving scruples to the ordination standards. It also stated in the ruling that that “the season is ripe with opportunity for discussion and action to clarify the manner in which the (denomination’s) Constitution is changed and interpreted.”
Anticipating that an appeal may be filed in the case, the commission issued a stay of enforcement of its ruling for 45 days. Larges has a position to which she could be ordained, as the presbytery also voted 157-144 last November to approve That All May Freely Serve, an advocacy group for which Larges serves as minister coordinator, as a validated ministry.
The five members of the synod judicial commission who voted for that majority opinion were Jim Bennett, Ruth Goldthwaite, Jean Hurst, Ken Robbins and Gail Saxowsky.
Four members of the judicial commission — Donald Baird, Melvin Khachigian, Jean McClain, and Kenneth M. Robbins — filed a dissenting opinion. They wrote that for Larges “to separate her actions from Biblical truth is a serious departure from Reformed faith.” And they state in the dissenting opinion that the “fidelity and chastity” standard is a requirement in the ordination standards, and that no departures from that standard should be accepted.
