Now that Amendment 10-A has been passed in a majority of our presbyteries, we are aware of the mixture of feelings and fears that this decision has created. As those who have been privileged to serve as elected leaders of our denomination, we represent a spectrum of opinion about the wisdom and faithfulness of this change in our ordination standards. Some of us have worked and prayed for this change to happen, and some of us have worked and prayed that the current wording in the Book of Order would hold firm. But all of us fervently hope that the church will move forward as a unified and missional expression of the Body of Christ.
We affirm that Jesus Christ is Head of the Church, and continues to guide and direct it. The decision to adopt Amendment 10-A does not bind the conscience of any Presbyterian, nor does it create a mandate for ordaining particular individuals. Instead it directs each congregation and presbytery to prayerfully discern the gifts and call of each candidate for ordination, guided by Scripture and the confessions. And it calls all ordained officers to “submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”
We believe that the Presbyterian Church (USA) needs the voices and gifts of all of us, whether we agree with Amendment 10-A or not. Our unity is strengthened by our diversity, and vigorous debate as well as mutual forbearance is essential to the body. After thirty years of struggle related to the call and ordination of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, it is now time to move forward. We pray that God will bless all of us with a fresh commitment to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with a world hungry for the grace, justice, and truth of the Gospel.
Relying upon the wisdom of the Apostle Paul we “beg you to lead a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one anther in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4: 1-2).
Faithfully yours,
| Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel 214th GA-PCUSA (2002) Elder Thelma Adair Rev. Susan R. Andrews Rev. Robert W. Bohl Elder Patricia Brown Rev. John M. Buchanan Elder Marj Carpenter Rev. John M. Fife Elder Freda A. Gardner Rev. Joan A. Gray Elder Price H. Gwynn III Rev. Charles A. Hammond Rev. Robert C. Lamar |
Rev. William P. Lytle 190th GA-UPCUSA (1978) Elder Sara Bernice Moseley Rev. Harriet Nelson Rev. Douglas W. Oldenburg Rev. Syngman Rhee Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow Rev. Jack Rogers Elder Rick Ufford-Chase Rev. Herbert D. Valentine Rev. Benjamin Weir Elder William H. Wilson Rev. Albert C. Winn |
