Good News from Indiana! Presbytery of Ohio Valley Approves Ordination Amendment 08-B

On February 21, at the First Presbyterian Church, Bedford, Indiana, the Presbytery of Ohio Valley affirmed the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08-B by a vote of 57 YES to 44 NO with 1 Abstentions.

The Presbytery of Ohio Valley's ministry center is Bloomington, Indiana.  The Mission and Vision Statements of the Presbytery of Ohio Valley reveal why a vote to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families is possible within this presbytery:
 
Mission:  God’s Purpose for Us Is To Be a Transforming Community of Churches Sharing the Light of Christ with the World
Vision:  In our common life we:  demonstrate what God intends for all humanity by living together in unity, forgiveness, and reconciliation; show the new reality revealed in Jesus Christ sharing together in God’s mission of proclamation and service; acknowledge differences while living out “good hope for all.”

Source of presbytery information:  http://www.povpc.org/index.html
 
Special thanks to all those working to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families now in the Presbytery of Ohio Valley.  You are an inspiration.
 
We are grateful for the witness, leadership and service of Julia Stumpff, Co-Chair, Open and Affirming Task Force, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Indiana and the many allies and supporters from the O&A Task Force and from within First Presbyterian Church, Columbus.  And, special thanks to Lynn Hailey and Susan Ingmire, of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, Cincinnati, Ohio for their support of the 0&A Task Force at First Presbyterian Church, Columbus.
 
A reflection from Julia Stumpff on the presbytery meeting follows this announcement.
 
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 this stand for justice and call to the end to discrimination in the Presbytery of Ohio Valley!  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 -- 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!
 
For resources, stories, presbytery vote tally, and news from More Light Presbyterians
YES on 08-B Campaign go to http://www.mlp.org/answeringgodscall
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 Reflection on the presbytery meeting from Julia Stumpff, Co-Moderator, Open & Affirming Task Force, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Indiana:

The Presbytery of the Ohio Valley voted on all the rest of the amendments/actions from the 2008 GA during its December meeting. Yesterday was saved for regular business and 08-B.  Included in the day was an hour reserved for table conversations using Mutual Invitation.  Presbytery organizers did their best to ensure facilitators of these conversations remained neutral during and were trained for the process.  They also organized conversational groups so that a mix of views were represented in each group.  All this advance planning was wise.  Conversations stayed safe, and were an opportunity for listening and sharing.  Consequently, by the time debate took place on the floor, everyone had the opportunity to share their views. Few people arose to speak against 08-B.  More people rose to speak in favor of 08-B.

Going into the presbytery meeting, I knew of many YES votes that weren't there/couldn't be there.  Earlier in the week, I had been discouraged and despairing.  By the time Saturday rolled around, I had moved beyond the discouragement and into the hope for gracious conversations which would make future conversations in the presbytery easier to start and continue.  However, as soon as the facilitator training began, and I started hearing so many people that I hadn't met/didn't know of share how helpful this new wording was and how
unhelpful/exclusive the old wording was, how it was time for change, how we need to open our doors, I became so much more encouraged that the Spirit was moving our Church.
 
I learned of congregants who had made the trip to the meeting for the specific purpose of witnessing to folks during the table conversations that this was the right thing to do (since they had no vote or voice on the floor).  I could only be encouraged.  After the debate and vote count, the vote was announced and received in silence.  As we stood for a prayer, joy and hope overwhelmed me, and tears came to my eyes.
 
Julia Stumpff, Co-Chair, Open & Affirming Task Force, First Presbyterian Church, Columbus, Indiana   http://www.fpccolumbus.org/
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