PUP Begins to Bear the Fruit of Divisiveness
January 21, 2008

Here we are, barely across the threshold of a new year and already more is happening than can be conveyed to you in one letter. I'll begin with a status report on the harm that is emerging from the 2006 General Assembly's adoption of the Peace, Unity, and Purity Report (PUP). There is much to pray for and do.

PUP Produces New Problems from Cases Once Resolved: San Francisco
By a narrow vote, the Presbytery of San Francisco voted last week to approve Lisa Larges ready to move toward ordination as a minister of Word and Sacrament. The candidate identifies herself as a lesbian unwilling to comply with the constitutional requirement for ordination in G-6.0106b.
The presbytery's action last Tuesday, January 15, reversed a prior action by the presbytery's Committee on Preparation for Ministry in 2004. Earlier, in 1992, the General Assembly's Permanent Judicial Commission, our highest church court, had ruled that Ms. Larges' unwillingness to comply with constitutional requirements for ordination was a bar to her readiness to receive a call.

In the aftermath of the 2006 General Assembly's adoption of the PUP Report and the authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order section on freedom of conscience (G-6.0108), Ms. Larges asked the Committee on Preparation for Ministry to reconsider her readiness. In December 2007, the committee, by a narrow vote of 12/9 voted to recommend that her departure from G-6.0106b not be considered a hindrance to her ordination.

Rev. Mary Naegeli, immediate past co-Moderator of the Presbyterian Coalition, led the strong minority effort to maintain constitutional integrity in the presbytery. That group is seeking a stay of enforcement and remedial review of the decision by the Synod of the Pacific.

A matter once resolved by the courts of the church is opened up again. New turmoil is created because of the ambiguity created by the new authoritative interpretation of the PUP Report.

PUP in Minneapolis
Minneapolis is another place where a situation once resolved has been reopened by PUP
In 2000 the Presbytery of the Twin Cities area granted a request to United Seminary professor Paul Capetz to be released from the duties of ordained ministry as provided for in G-11.0414. His request was based on his statement that he is a "gay man who could not in good conscience pledge a vow of celibacy"

Professor Capetz found new liberty under the PUP interpretation of the constitution to declare a "scruple of conscience" to G-6.0106b. The presbytery has called a special meeting on January 26, 2008 to determine whether Professor Capetz's departure from G-6.0106b constitutes a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed faith and polity, and whether the presbytery will restore him to the office of ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament.

If the presbytery proceeds to reinstate Professor Capetz, there are presbyters who are ready to take their stand and pursue the matter in the courts of the church.

This is the PUP legacy. And these two cases will not be the end of it. More are brewing in other presbyteries. Neither the Scripture nor the Presbyterian constitution have changed. But, because of PUP, prior decisions are now up for grabs and presbyteries will be going through the protracted turmoil of new court cases.

The Next General Assembly Can Help
There are overtures coming to the next General Assembly to rescind or modify the PUP authoritative interpretation. If you need a refresher on the PUP Report, you can find the General Assembly's action by clicking here.
You can see the overtures opposing the PUP Report on our website by clicking here. The first and the third of the Overtures Already Approved are on this subject. Your presbytery has until February 22, 2008 to concur with one of these overtures.

Please Pray
Please pray for our friends in San Francisco and the Twin Cities as they face opposition and seek to act faithfully in these days.
Please pray for the General Assembly and for the overtures that respond to PUP.

Other Prayer Needs
There are churches in distress in their presbyteries. Please pray for the situation in the Presbytery of Heartland, and for the Londonderry Church in the Presbytery of Northern New England.
May God encourage and strengthen you in this new year.

Terry Schlossberg
The Presbyterian Coalition

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