 On May 19, by a vote of 50 - 41 - 6, the Missouri River Valley Presbytery became the 78th presbytery to approve Amendment 08-B and the 34rd presbytery to "flip" from opposition in 2002 to support for LGBT equality and justice in 2009. Missouri River Valley presbytery is in greater Omaha, Nebraska and southwestern Iowa.
Missouri River Valley's approval of 08-B reached the historic milestone record as the 78th presbytery to support ordination standards based upon faith and character, not marital status or sexual orientation. We rejoice that 78 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.
78 supportive presbyteries are 36 more than the final count of 42 in 2002 with one more presbytery yet to vote. Suroeste Presbytery, Puerto Rico, is scheduled to vote on May 30. As the prophet Isaiah spoke, "surely God is doing a new thing in our midst." A beautiful story of grace and progress comes from the recent Presbiterio del Noroeste, Puerto Rico, meeting: "It was a real moment of grace and we talked with respect. For the first time there where 7 votes in the affirmative, 1 abstention and 41 in the negative. It was a good day, it was a blessed day, it was God's day. Un abrazo en Cristo."
Special thanks to all those working to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families now in Missouri River Valley and Noroeste presbyteries.
We wish to thank specifically Cleve Evans and Mary Ann Calta, for doing outreach and providing educational resources to their colleagues in ministry in Missouri River Valley Presbytery on 08-B, along with those who spoke in favor of 08-B at the presbytery meeting including Cleve Evans, Rev. Russ Palmer, Rev. Nancy Profit, Rev. Bob Keefer, Rev. Lyle Franzen, Rev. Dwight Williams, Rev. Keith Cook, Rev. Becky Balestri, and Rev. Steve Plank.
And, we are grateful to Rev. Debra Peevey, Rev. Heidi Peterson, Rev. Ray Bagnuolo, Jack Cover, and Sonnie Swentson for providing educational resources and information on Amendment O8-B. All of you are an inspiration!
The 34 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, Pacific and Missouri River Valley.
Thanks be to God for those in Missouri River Valley Presbytery, and the Presbiterio del Noroeste in Puerto Rico 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.
78 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
Answering God's Call to Serve! YES on 08-B Campaign
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