Today and this weekend the Presbyterian Church (USA) is hearing two cases on trial regarding ordination of GLBTQ congregations that pre-dated the changes to the church’s constitution. (On May 10th the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted that it will allow ordination partnered lesbian and gay Christians as elders, deacons and ministers in the church communities that wish for these candidates to become ordained. )
The case of Parnell, et al v. Presbytery of San Francisco ” is a case attempting to reverse the approval of the ordination of publicly lesbian Lisa Larges by San Francisco Presbytery.” The other case is similar. Legal counsel for both presbyteries have filed motions to have these cases declared moot because of the intervening removal of the grounds for these cases. While neither Lisa nor the person involved in the other case is an ‘official’ party in these cases,their ordinations and their futures hang in the balance.
Our prayers are with Lisa Larges and our Presbyterian friends. Lisa was the guest speaker at the ELM/Proclaim retreat and has been awaiting ordination in the Presbyterian Church for 22 years. Lisa works for That All May Freely Serve, here is their blog.
Stay up to date on the trial by checking this website.
Thanks so much for this post.
Another case is also before the court. It’s the case of Caledonia Church vs. John Knox Presbytery, involving the ordination of Scott Anderson, an openly gay and partnered man in your neighborhood: he serves as Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches. Here’s a great article about him and this case: http://www.isthmus.com/isthmus/article.php?article=30716.
Keep praying, friends!
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