An Invitation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Members

of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to Come Out

Dear Sisters and Brothers:

We six elders and ministers of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are privileged to be openly lesbian and gay commissioners sent to the 213th General Assembly by our presbyteries. We are grateful that by the grace of Christ working through the Holy Spirit, God is renewing the church. We see this renewal in the strength given to the 213^th GA to act decisively on Friday, June 15, 2001, to lead the church in becoming a fully welcoming community.

By a vote of 317-208 (60%), the 213^th GA sent to the presbyteries a proposed amendment to delete G-6.0106b from the Book of Order. G-6.0106b has been used to date solely against openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (l/g/b/t) members of the PC(USA) to prohibit their ordination and/or installation as elders, deacons, and ministers. The 213^th GA’s action, if ratified by the majority of the 173 presbyteries, shall return to local sessions and presbyteries what has historically been their right and responsibility to decide who is qualified to be ordained and installed as an elder, deacon, or minister, guided by scripture and constitutional standards, under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

God has given us, the l/g/b/t members of the PC(USA), an opportunity of a life time! We can be instruments of Christ’s grace during the coming months as the presbyteries vote to ratify the amendment to delete G-6.0106b. We can help the church become rooted and grounded in a love that leaves no one out and considers no one to be second class. We can help the church become rooted and grounded in a love that casts down all barriers to mutual acceptance and casts out all fear of the "other."

If you have been waiting for an opportune time to come out as a l/g/b/t person to your local church or presbytery committee or presbytery as a whole, we strongly urge you prayerfully and carefully to consider doing so in the coming months. NOW IS THE OPPORTUNE TIME TO COME OUT IN THE CHURCH!

We six commissioners of the 213^th GA strongly feel that our coming out to the GA was used by God, in a small and perhaps large way, to help our co-commissioners to see beyond a "debatable issue" to the real lives of flesh and blood people. As openly lesbian and gay commissioners

• we signed and sent to all the other commissioners our prayer that "as we lived and worked and struggled together we might respect one another, love one another, and enjoy one another;"
• we introduced ourselves as openly lesbian and gay commissioners during the "speak out sessions" of the plenary meetings of GA;
• we introduced Commissioner’s Resolutions to help address the needs of l/g/b/t people in church and society;
• we argued on behalf of various actions before the GA, many totally unrelated to the ordination/human sexuality issue, but, about which we had expertise and passionate concern.

As a result, the other commissioners saw us as multifaceted and not focused only on sexuality issues.

We are very aware that only you know when is the right time and what is the right place for you to come out to others as a l/g/b/t member of the church. We also know that some of you, for good reasons, do not feel it is possible to come out at this time in your lives. We do not intend to say that any one should feel compelled to come out or feel guilty about not doing so.

We do mean to say that this is the right time to come out, if you have already decided in your heart that you need to do so but have been waiting for the right time. God has given you an opportunity of a life time!

God has set a difficult challenge and responsibility before all of us in the church. We are called to do the hard, at times seemingly impossible, work of securing the ratification of the amendment to delete G-6.0106b. As faithful people enveloped in the arms of grace, which roots and grounds us in Christ’s love, we can move the looming mountain of G-6.0106b and cast it into the sea. Then finally the shadow of divisiveness that it has cast over the church shall disappear and Christ’s Light shall shine into our hearts and minds and lead us into the 21^st century as a new church.

Grace and peace be to you. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.

Cleveland Evans, Elder Commissioner from Missouri River Valley

Alan Kiste, Elder Commissioner from Detroit

Tammy Lindahl, Minister Commissioner from Twin Cities

Mark A. Palermo, Elder Commissioner from Chicago

Donald E. Stroud, Minister Commissioner from Baltimore

E. Scott Winnette, Minister Commissioner from National Capital