Presbytery Reinstates Minister Who Will
Not Comply with Standards for Officers
February 01, 2008

On January 26 the Twin Cities Area Presbytery, meeting at Christ Presbyterian Church in Edina, MN, "restored to exercise of ordained office" Dr Paul Capetz. This action followed their vote to affirm that Capetz's "departure," refusal to comply with the requirement that church officers live in "fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness" (G-6.0106b), was "non-essential."

At his request, Capetz was released from the exercise of ordained office in 2000, several years after the "fidelity and chastity" wording was added to the Book of Order. After the General Assembly approved the Peace, Unity, and Purity (PUP) Report in 2006, Capetz sought reinstatement by the presbytery based on PUP's new authoritative interpretation of the constitution. He asked the presbytery to find that his refusal to comply with G-6.0106b was not essential to his exercise of ordained office.

The presbytery spent the morning hearing from Capetz, asking him questions and participating in "discernment" exercises in assigned discussion groups around tables. Presbytery leadership brought in Rev. Vicky Curtiss from Portland OR, who had been a member of the PUP task force, as their process person for the day.

In the afternoon, after hearing a report in the plenary session summarizing "how the table groups were leaning" in supporting or opposing Capetz's request, three items came to a vote. During the morning question time Capetz had stated, "I will not be in compliance with G-6.0106b." During plenary he responded "I will not take a vow of celibacy," when asked if he would refrain from intimate sexual activity outside the bounds of marriage of a man and a woman. There is no requirement for a "vow of celibacy" in the constitution.

In both written statements and questioning at the presbytery meeting, Capetz has made clear his position with respect to the constitution. Nevertheless, the presbytery voted 197 to 84 to find his departure to be "non-essential." They voted 196 to 79 to "restore him to exercise of ordained office," and by voice vote validated his ministry as a seminary professor.

Presbytery commissioners expected to pursue church court action
Presbyters who voted to support the constitutional requirements for church officers and opposed allowing Capetz's departure, are expected to file a complaint and pursue the matter in church courts.

Friends of the constitution need our help
These friends of the constitution, like those in the Presbytery of San Francisco, now need the support of all of us who hope for clarity from the courts that the ordination requirements of our constitution are not discretionary and must be complied with. The process is costly emotionally, spiritually, and financially. I will write you again soon about how you can help with a financial contribution. In the meantime, please pray for these friends. And do your part to see that careful examination of all candidates takes place in your church and presbytery.
Please join us in looking to God for his favor and help.

Terry Schlossberg
The Presbyterian Coalition

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