LGBT People Are Morally and Spiritually Equal to Heterosexuals

In an interview with The Bay Area Reporter, Michael Adee, Executive Director and Field Organizer for More Light Presbyterians said, "What the Presbyterian Church is saying with the policy change now in effect...is that LGBT people are morally and spiritually equal to heterosexuals. We are not better or worse – just the same." Living into this equality allows people to tell "the truth of their lives with grace and integrity."

"We give thanks to God that the Presbyterian Church enters a new era of equality," said Michael Adee, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, a church advocacy organization that pressed for the policy change.

"We are grateful that our church devoted to end discrimination and allow the ordination of qualified lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender church leaders," Adee said. "Our hurting world needs as many persons answering God's call to serve and make a difference. As the prophet Isaiah has said, 'God is doing a new thing in our midst' and these LGBT leaders will be a blessing to our church and world."

For decades, advocacy organizations within the Presbyterian Church have worked to remove a constitutional barrier to gay ordination – one that dates back to 1978...

"What the Presbyterian Church is saying with the policy change now in effect," said Adee, "is that LGBT people are morally and spiritually equal to heterosexuals. We are not better or worse – just the same."

Consequently, Adee said that he expects more people will come out, "telling the truth of their lives with grace and integrity."

He added, "Ministers who have already been ordained will be testing the waters to see if it will be safe to be out in their presbyteries."

For that reason, Adee said, More Light Presbyterians and other supporters of this change must be "absolutely vigilant" to ensure that Amendment 10-A is "fairly and accurately interpreted in all 173 presbyteries."

And it appears that some clergy have come out in response to the change.

The Reverend Janet Edwards, co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians, acknowledged in an op-ed on the Advocate 's website that she is bisexual.

Edwards said in a conference call with reporters that the move to embrace ordination equality means that "our Gospel message to the world can ring out clear and strong and with integrity."

As she explained, "We taught our people: 'Jesus loves me, yes, I know;' but at a certain point we had to say 'not exactly.' If you are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, that's not quite what we told you."

Now with ordination equality, Edwards said, "My whole self bursts with joy."

The entire article is available online at The Bay Area Reporter.

See Also:

• Top Stories About New Era of Equality in the Presbyterian Church (USA)
• As Presbyterians Accept Gay Ministers, an Advocate Comes Out