Summary of Recent Complaints

Background

All 20-some disciplinary complaints have been filed by Paul Rolf Jensen, a writer for the right-wing publication The Presbyterian Layman. No presbytery has yet filed charges against any of the accused. Below is a summary of ccomplaints we can make public, respecting the wishes of those who choose confidentiality. Jensen is a member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA, although he lives in Reston, Virginia.

Additionally, there have been several remedial complaints filed against church sessions and presbyteries.

Cases against Openly GLBT Commissioners to the 213th General Assembly, Louisville, KY, 2001

While six individuals came out on the floor of the General Assembly in 2001, only three have been charged.
  • One complaint against a minister of word and sacrament has already been dismissed.
  • Rev. Tammy Lindahl - investigation pending in Twin Cities Area Presbytery
  • Rev. Don Stroud - complaint dismissed in Baltimore Presbytery

    • Cases surrounding the ordination of Katie Morrison, National Field Organizer, More Light Presbyterians

    While hundreds participated in the ordination of Katie Morrison, only eight were charged.
  • Rev. Katie Morrison
  • Elder Steve Morrison - charged with reading scripture at his own daughter's ordination!
  • Rev. Carolyn Osborn - no charges filed
  • Rev. Brian Tippen (Executive Presbyter) - no charges filed
  • Rev. Barbara Rowe (Presbytery Moderator) - no charges filed
  • Rev. Chandler Stokes - Moderator of Redwoods' Committee on Preparation for Ministry
  • Rev. Yvette Flunder - Case not within PCUSA jurisdiction, as Flunder is Founder and Senior Pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ (UCC), and Executive Director of The Ark of Refuge

    • Remedial complaints were also filed against Redwoods Presbytery and the Synod of the Pacific

    Cases against dissenting churches and their pastors

    While there are over 100 dissenting Presbyterian churches, only a few have been chosen as subjects of Jensen's complaints.
  • Pacific Presbytery - Rev. Ann Petker, Evangelist, TAMFS Northern California
  • Yellowstone Presbytery: two pastors charged
  • Hudson River Presbytery: four pastors charged (representing 3 congregations, while at least 11 congregations in this presbytery have expressed public dissent)
    • Rev. Joe Gilmore
    • Rev. Susan DeGeorge
    • Rev. Jean Holmes
  • Cincinnati Presbytery: two pastors charged at Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church
  • Session of First Presbyterian Church, Baldwin Park, CA, San Gabriel Presbytery
  • New York City Presbytery - Pastor
  • Rev. Rob Martin, recently called to be pastor of First Presbyterian, Palo Alto

    • News Links

  • More Light Presbyterians Lament Anti-Gay Judicial Complaints - MLP Press Release, March 28, 2002
  • Complaints of ordination irregularities, heresy filed with presbyteries on opposite coasts - Presbyterian Outlook, October 2, 2001