MEDIA RELEASE                                

NOVEMBER 3, 2009                                                  

Contact:         Lisa Larges 585-615-0613

Paul Capetz 612-721-4138        

Presbyterian high court rules on exceptions to gay restrictions

The high court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) announced decisions in favor of a lesbian woman and a gay man on Tuesday, Nov. 3.  Meeting in Indianapolis, Friday, Oct. 30, the court heard arguments related to Lisa Larges, a lesbian woman who has been a candidate for ordination for more than two decades and Paul Capetz, a gay man whose January 2008 reinstatement by his home Presbytery was challenged. 

The Larges and Capetz cases are the first cases to use a 2008 compromise voted by the denomination so that, despite a ban on partnered gay and lesbian ministers, Presbyteries could consider candidates who submit a “scruple” (statement of conscience) on a case by case basis.

Larges submitted a statement of conscience to her Presbytery to dissent from the requirement of celibacy for gay and lesbian ministers and was approved to move forward on her candidacy for ordination.  Legal actions by opponents delayed her ordination. But the high court’s decision allows Lisa to be considered for ordination by her San Francisco Presbytery, the regional governing body in the Presbyterian Church. The Presbytery will meet on Nov. 10 to review Lisa’s credentials and her statement of conscience on the requirement of celibacy for gay and lesbian clergy. 

Larges said, “I am so grateful for all of the people of faith who support ordination of qualified gay and lesbian candidates for ministry.  Now, my Presbytery can consider my qualifications and my statement of conscience in my journey to serve.”

Dr. Paul Capetz, a professor at United Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, set aside his ordination in protest over the ban on partnered gay elders and ministers in the church.  When the compromise was passed in 2008, he submitted a statement of conscience to his Presbytery and was reinstated in.  The court let stand his reinstatement as an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). 

Capetz said, “I am committed to serve the people of God and I am so pleased to be able to do that in my home church, the Presbyterian Church (USA).”

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will meet again in July 3-10, 2010, in Minneapolis. Commissioners will again address the issue of the qualification of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people for leadership in the denomination. 

 (note: the decision may be found at http://www.pcusa.org/gapjc/decisions/pjc21908b.pdf.)