On issuing an authoritative interpretation clarifying standards for ordination, and deleting G-6.0106b:
The Presbytery of the Western Reserve respectfully overtures the 217th General Assembly (2006) to do the following:
1. Provide the following authoritative interpretation:
Interpretative statements concerning ordained service of homosexual church members by the190th General Assembly (1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the UnitedStates of America and the 119th General Assembly (1979) of thePresbyterian Church in the United States, and all subsequent affirmations thereof, have no further force or effect.
2. Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteriesfor their affirmative or negative votes:
Shall G-6.0106b be stricken?
In contrast to the dominant anti-gay culture, which continues to send the message that persons who are lesbian and gay and their families are not acceptable in many communities, the biblical values of inclusive welcome (Acts 10:28, 11:17) and love of neighbor (Romans 13:8-10) compel us to proclaim unambiguously that we remain committed to the elimination of all barriers to the full participation of Presbyterians who are gay and lesbian in the life and ministry of the Church, for it is the Spirit who “calls women and men to all ministries of the church.” (A Brief Statement of Faith)
It is profoundly anti-evangelical, antithetical to the Gospel, for the Church to send the message that persons for whom Christ died are outside the love of God. In addition to the Scriptures, we stand on our Confessions, lifting up particularly these affirmations from A Brief Statement of Faith:
“The Spirit justifies us by grace through faith,
sets us free to accept ourselves and to love God and neighbor,
and binds us together with all believers
in the one body of Christ, the church…
In a broken and fearful world
the Spirit gives us courage
to pray without ceasing,
to witness among all peoples to Christ as Lord and Savior,
to unmask idolatries in church and culture,
to hear the voices of peoples long silenced,
and to work with others for justice, freedom, and peace.”