Detroit Presbytery

Adopted 120-77 at their June 28, 2005 Meeting:

The Presbytery of Detroit respectfully overtures the 217th  General Assembly (2006) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to  do the following: 

(A) Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed  amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative  votes: 
Shall G-6.0106b be stricken? 

(B) Approve the following authoritative interpretation, which shall take effect immediately upon the affirmative vote of the  217th  General Assembly (2006): 

“Interpretative statements concerning ordained service by homosexual persons by the 190 th General Assembly (1978)  of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of  America, the 119 th General Assembly (1979) of the  Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all  subsequent affirmations thereof, shall be given no further  force or effect.” 

The Stated Clerk of Presbytery is directed to send this overture to the Office of the General Assembly as soon as possible  following Presbytery approval. 

Rationale

• “God alone is Lord of the conscience” (G-1.0301); 
• The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) “believe(s) that there are truths and  forms with respect to which men (sic) of good characters and principles  may differ” as to which “it (is) the duty of both private Christians and  societies to exercise mutual forbearance toward each other” (G-1.0305); 
• Those who undertake particular ministries, including those called to  exercise special functions in the church as deacons, elders and ministers  of Word and Sacrament, “should be persons of strong faith, dedicated  discipleship, and love of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord . . . (whose)  manner of life should be a demonstration of the Christian gospel in the  Church and in the world.” (G-6.0106a); 
• Presbyterians of good characters and principles may differ on the actions  necessary to demonstrate the Christian gospel in the church and in the  world;
• In each church the congregation has the power to nominate and elect  deacons and elders and the Session has responsibility and power to  examine the qualifications of elders and deacons (G-6.0106a, G-10.0102l,  and G-14.0200); 
• Each Presbytery has the responsibility and the power to ordain, receive,  dismiss, install, remove, and discipline Ministers of the Word and  Sacrament (G-11.0103n and G-14.0101); 
• G-6.0106b is being used to exclude from elective office baptized active  members of our churches who are “entitled to all the rights and privileges  of the church, including the right . . . to vote and hold office.” (G-5.0202); 
• G-6.0106b abridges the responsibility of sessions and Presbyteries to  determine the readiness for office of active members. (G-60108b:  “The  decision as to whether a person has departed from essentials of Reformed  faith and polity . . . ultimately becomes the responsibility of the governing  body in which he or she serves. [G-1.0301 and G-1.0302]”); 
• Historically, persons of strong faith, dedicated discipleship, and love of  Jesus Christ (both heterosexual and homosexual) have been elected and  ordained by their congregations and presbyteries; 
• Although G-6.0106b applies equally to heterosexual and homosexual  persons, its enforcement is being directed only toward gay, lesbian,  bisexual and transgender persons; and 
• Attempts by the General Assembly and Permanent Judicial Commission to  resolve this issue have consumed great amounts of time, energy and  money and have led to threats of schism and other actions which endanger  the peace, purity and unity of the Church.