"My heart has been changed" - Presbytery of Genesee Valley passes a delete-B overture by 77%!

Wednesday, September 28 2005 @ 05:00 PM

Our thanks go out to all of the supporters of equality who worked hard within this Presbytery for this fantastic success. This is the 8th known delete-B overture going to the 2006 General Assembly, and the 3rd since the Task Force released its final report and recommendations. It is now clear that Presbyteries are choosing to side with equality equality rather than delay. It's not too late to ask your Presbytery to pass a delete-B overture - see our 2006 General Assembly Overture FAQ for how to do it.

(Story reported by Ralph Carter)

The Presbytery of Genesee Valley met on Tuesday, September 27, at the Presbyterian Church of Dansville NY, to consider an overture which would remove G-6.0106b from the Book of Order and eliminate relevant anti-gay Authoritative Interpretations of the Book of Order. Initiated by Calvary St Andrews Presbyterian Parish of Rochester NY, with additional concurrences by Lima Presbyterian Church, Downtown United Presbyterian Church and Third Presbyterian Church, the measure passed with 77% approval, 77 to 22. This is the largest level of support on this issue in the history of the presbytery.

Some of the sentiments expressed during debate:
- In non-essentials, tolerance
- We've been here before, why are we here again? When is the church going to understand that God's love is unconditional?
- We cannot squelch gifts
- There's no guarantee that the Theological Task Force's recommended Authoritative Interpretation will be adopted as written. This overture addresses that possibility.

Spirits were high among overture proponents. One retired pastor in the presbytery, who had suffered a mild stroke within the last two weeks, insisted on attending the meeting. He accomplished this by bringing his doctor with him, his ID bracelet from the hospital not yet removed from his wrist.

In a very poignant moment during the orderly debate which had been preceded by small group discussions and worship, a woman shared the story of falling down and being unable to get up. Since she lives in a rural area, she wondered how long she might have to wait for help. Two young men came by who asked if they could call an ambulance since the woman appeared to be in pain.

She said, "no."
"May we help you to your feet?"
"That would be kind."

The woman's daughter, who had been looking for her, found her mother as the young men were leaving. The daughter told her mother with some indignation, "do you realize that those two men you have been talking to are homosexual?"

The woman pondered this for days.

Concluding her story to the presbytery, the woman said, "Never again will I hear the story of the Good Samaritan without thinking about the fall I took, my sense of helplessness, and the kind assistance of those two young men, who could have just passed me by. My heart has been changed. I urge you to support this overture to right this long-standing injustice in the church."

Praise God that hearts and minds are being changed. Let us be open to the miraculous work of the Holy Spirit in our midst.

Ralph Carter
Co-chair, Welcoming Presbyterians of Genesee Valley
Rochester NY

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