Reported by our field organizer Michael Adee. Thanks to all who worked on this overture in Des Moines Presbytery, and special thanks to Ted Coppock of Westminster Presbyterian for doing the pro-overture presentation to the presbytery.

Good News from the Midwest! Des Moines Presbytery passes Ordination Overture to 2006 General Assembly

Ted Coppock, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Des Moines and MLP Liaison for Iowa, reported today of the good news that the Des Moines Presbytery passed the Ordination Overture during its meeting this past Saturday, August 20, 2005. This is the second time that the Des Moines Presbytery has passed an ordination overture. With 78 persons eligible to vote, the overture passed with 42 in favor, 34 opposed and 2 abstentions. In 2004, it was Des Moines Presbytery to pass the first ordination overture. This year, it was Heartland Presbytery in nearby Missouri and Kansas.

Special thanks to Ted Coppock for offering to the presbytery on Saturday the presentation in favor of the Ordination Overture and the removal of barriers to the full welcome and affirmation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and their families in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Ted participated in the National MLP Leadership Training Conference in Kansas City, MO this past May.

The groundswell of ordination overtures being considered and passed continues all across the country. What happened in Des Moines Presbytery this past week illustrates once again that now is the time for change, now is the time for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to remove the anti-gay barriers within its church law and relationship with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and our families. It gives evidence once again that people are ready for change, and for the PCUSA to reclaim its moral voice as a "reformed and always reforming" faith tradition.

For more information on ordination overtures, see the MLP 2006 General Assembly overture FAQ. If your session, church or presbytery has not yet begun consideration of an ordination overture, there is still time to make that happen. Mike Smith, National MLP Board, is available to help you draft an ordination overture and he can be reached at mikesmith55@cox.net

Together we are building a Church for All God's People.

with gratitude and hope,
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D, National Field Organizer

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Ref: http://www.mlp.org/article.php/20050822203443636