Good News!! Pacific Presbytery and the Presbytery of East Iowa vote Yes on the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08

On May 12, by a vote of 100 - 90 - 3, the Pacific Presbytery became the 33rd presbytery to "flip" from opposition in 2002 to support for LGBT equality and justice in 2009. 

 

The same day, the Presbytery of East Iowa voted Yes on 08-B, 74 to 21, which is a 25% pro-LGBT shift from its vote in 2002. 

Pacific and East Iowa's approval of 08-B reached historic milestone records as the 76th and 77th presbyteries that support ordination standards based upon faith and character, not marital status or sexual orientation.  We rejoice that 77 presbyteries call for the end of discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians who are gifted and called by God to serve as Ministers, Elders and Deacons.

77 supportive presbyteries are 35 more than the final count of 42 in 2002 with more presbyteries yet to vote.   The last presbytery vote is scheduled for May 30.  As the prophet Isaiah spoke, "surely God is doing a new thing in our midst."

 

Special thanks to all those working to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families now in Pacific, East Iowa and Savannah presbyteries. 

 

We wish to thank specifically Rev. Sue Fisher, who served as a Commissioner to the 218th General Assembly and its Ordination Standards Committee for providing educational resources to her colleagues in ministry in Pacific Presbytery on 08-B, along with Rev. Dan Smith, Rev. Frank Alton, Tony de la Rosa, Rev. Ann Hayman, Rev. Bear Ride and Rev. Susan Craig.

 

And, we are grateful to Rev. Debra Peevey, Rev. Sandy Winter and Sonnie Swentson for providing educational resources and information on Amendment O8-B.  All of you are an inspiration!

 

The 33 Presbyteries that have flipped from "NO" in 2001-2 to "YES" in 2009 so far include:  Western North Carolina, Lake Huron, East Tennessee, Cimarron, Southeastern Illinois, Charlotte, Maumee Valley, Great Rivers, Scioto Valley, Sheppards & Lapsley, Tres Rios, New Hope, Greater Atlanta, Ohio Valley, Arkansas, Yellowstone, Whitewater Valley, Transylvania, Eastminster, West Jersey, Mackinac, Newark, West Virginia, Philadelphia, Grace, Wabash Valley, Salem, Western New York, Detroit, Lehigh, Minnesota Valleys, Utah and Pacific.

 

Also voting on May 12, Savannah Presbytery's vote of 29 - 38 was a 16% pro-LGBT shift in 2009 compared to its vote in 2002.  Rejoicing even in the loss was this commissioner who reported after the meeting:  "You may have heard by now but the Savannah Presbytery vote on Amendment B was as follows:  YES - 29   NO - 38.  This was still a "watershed" moment for a presbytery that only had ONE ordained woman member 15 years ago. I am excited about the vote and will take this momentum and praise God for it."

 

We want to alert all of you working in local presbyteries to pass 08-B to prepared for any of the "No Action" efforts in your presbytery and be ready to address them. 

 

For educational resources and our Resource Packet from the Answering God's Call to Serve! Yes on 08-B Campaign -- go to http://www.mlp.org/answeringgodscall

 

Thanks be to God for those in Pacific Presbytery, Presbytery of East Iowa and Savannah Presbytery who took a stand for justice and calling for the end of discrimination in our Church.  Together We are building a Church for all God's people. 

 

77 Presbyteries have voted so far for Amendment 08-B.  This campaign is not over!

Have Faith.  Continue praying.  Keep working. 

 

with hope and grace,

Michael

 

PS -- Special thanks to Bruce Hahne, recent National MLP Board Member and Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, CA, a More Light Church for number-crunching and analysis of trends so far for Amendment 08-B -- go to http://yeson08b.blogspot.com/

 

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer

More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501 USA (505) 820-7082, michaeladee@aol.com, www.mlp.org 

 

 

Answering God's Call to Serve!  YES on 08-B Campaign

For resources, stories, presbytery vote tally, and news from More Light Presbyterians

YES on 08-B Campaign go to http://www.mlp.org/answeringgodscall

---

Ref: http://www.mlp.org/article.php/2009051503504651