Good News!! Presbytery of Lake Huron approves Ordination Amendment 08-B

Wednesday, February 04 2009 @ 08:03 AM by Michael Adee

February 3. At its called meeting today the Presbytery of Lake Huron approved the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08-B by 43 to 32. The meeting was held at the Center for Ministry, Saginaw, Michigan.

This 57.3% approval margin is an 18% positive advance from the 2001 vote of 64 No to 42 Yes.

2001's "Yes" vote was 39.6% only 7 years ago. Today is was 57.3% Yes!

In a matter of days, this is the second presbytery to "flip" from opposition in 2001 to approval in 2009 with Western North Carolina as the first presbytery to flip.

Reading the mission statement and spiritual direction of the Presbytery of Lake Huron reveals why a vote to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families was possible today.

The mission of the Presbytery of Lake Huron is "to partner with congregations, helping people to know, grow, share and serve as disciples of Jesus Christ."

From Legalism to Grace: Recovering Our Spiritual Center

We want to move away from acting out a belief that God rewards us for our adherence to rules for their own sake. That spirit asks "What must we do to please God?" We want to move toward a more grace oriented faith that asks, "What can God do through us, if we allow God to work?"

To move toward a grace centered existence.
To move toward a spirit of responding to God's grace in our lives.
To move toward a model of being a servant to the servants of God.
To move toward being a mission-centered Presbytery focused on Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God.
To move toward celebrating our shared life in response to grace.
To move toward a welcoming of change as opportunity to grow.

Source of information about Lake Huron Presbytery: http://www.presbylh.org/index.htm

Special thanks to all those working to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families now in the Presbytery of Lake Huron. You are an inspiration.

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 new Resource Packet from our Answering God's Call to Serve! Yes on 08-B Campaign -- go to www.mlp.org

Thanks be to God for this victory in the Presbytery of Lake Huron! Together We are building a Church for all God's people.

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. See below his note about this vote.

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For the second time in just a few days, a presbytery which previously voted anti-LGBT in 2001-2 has flipped its vote and has now voted pro-equality.

Lake Huron stats:
2001-2 01-A: 42 yes, 64 no --> 39.6% YES
2009 08-B: 43 yes, 32 no --> 57.3% YES

This is an 18% pro-LGBT shift in just 7 years, which is fantastic. And it's also in another "under 40%" presbytery that I wouldn't have expected to flip very easily this year.

If you're working in a presbytery and you aren't sure what to do to advocate for yes-on-08-B, maybe get on the phone to a pro-LGBT supporter at these presbyteries (Western North Carolina and now Lake Huron, both of which flipped) and ask them for tips. But first download and read
MLP's "yes" resource kit from mlp.org, of course. :-)

Full tracking spreadsheet, commentary, etc. is at http://yeson08b.blogspot.com

Bruce
hahne at io.com

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