NEW: SPJC (Remand) Decision and Order
Dear friends,
The matter of Parnell v. San Francisco Presbytery will be heard by the GAPJC on Friday, July 29, 2011, in Louisville, KY. Currently (as of July 11) briefs are being exchanged between the parties and members of the PJC on whether the passage of Amendment 10-A renders the case moot. We believe strongly that though the explicit reference to a fidelity/chastity standard for church officers was removed from the Book of Order, the standard itself clearly stated in the Scriptures and our Confessions is still in force. It is on this basis that we believe our case rests on a firm foundation.
Please be in prayer in anticipation of our Appeal Hearing at the end of the month. Pray for travel mercies, good health, clear thinking, and godly spirit for counsel: the Rev. Mary Naegeli and Bruce McIntosh, Exq. Pray that the PJC will agree that the base must be heard, despite what they read in the upcoming Presbytery brief that (probably) will suggest the case should be dismissed since G-6.0106b has been rewritten. You can read our take on that by downloading our briefs (see bottom of column to the left for links).
Donations to the fund will defray our travel expenses and contribute to the hours our consulting attorney has been putting in without remuneration for several months.
PDF of: Synod Decision 9/27/10
PDF of: Dear Friends...October, 2010
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Time Table of Events Leading up to Parnell v. SF Presbytery
re: the matter of Lisa Larges and PCUSA Ordination Standards
1978 UPC-USA Definitive Guidance issued forbidding the ordination of self-affirmed, practicing homosexuals, and urging the church toward ministries of hope and transformation to homosexual people.
1983 Reunion of the UPC and PCUS at the Atlanta General Assembly
1986 Ms. Larges taken under care of Twin Cities Area Presbytery
1991 Ms. Larges informs TCA-CPM that she is a lesbian woman unwilling
to abide by the church’s definitive guidance on homosexuality
1991 TCA certified Ms. Larges ready for ordination. A remedial case
was filed, and in 1993 the GA-PJC ruled in LeTourneau v. TCA (1993)
that she could not be ordained.
1993 The General Assembly of 1993 adopted the advice of the Advisory Committee which made 1978 Definitive Guidance on homosexuality
an “Authoritative Interpretation” of the constitution.
1996 The General Assembly of 1996 voted to send a constitutional
amendment to the presbyteries for ratification, the “fidelity & chastity”
requirement for all church officers.
1997 Ms. Larges sought transfer to the G-6.0106b is ratified and
San Francisco CPM’s care. During added to the Book of Order that process she stated her objection to G-6.0106b and her unwillingness
to abide by it. CPM took her under care anyway.
1997-98 First challenge to change G-6.0106b failed in the presbyteries.
2001-02 Second challenge to change G-6.0106b failed in the presbyteries.
2002 Ms. Larges began working for “That All May Freely Serve,” eventually becoming its director (2007).
2003-04 CPM conducts a “final assessment” of the candidate, whose self-affirmation and refusal to abide by G-6.0106b disqualified her for ordination. She was kept on the roll of candidates, in hope “that the rules would change.”
2006 Recommendations by the Theological Task Force Report on Peace, Unity, and Purity in the Church(PUP) were adopted by the GA. PUP-AI allows “departures” to be considered.
Dec 2007 CPM conducts its second “final assessment” during which Ms. Larges declared a “departure” from G-6.0106b. She is certified ready for ordination with this departure, and her case passed on to the Presbytery for consideration.
Jan. 2008 San Francisco Presbytery conducts a debate on whether the departure constituted a serious departure from the essentials of Reformed faith and polity. The close vote determined, “No.” Remedial Complaint is filed with the Synod-PJC.
June 2008 General Assembly passes Knox Overture, which nullified all previous AI regarding sexuality, and affirmed “freedom of conscience”
applies to mandatory church-wide standards.
2008-09 Third challenge to change G-6.0106b failed in the presbyteries.
March 2009 Remedial case against San Francisco Presbytery is heard by Synod of the Pacific PJC: Naegeli et al v. San Francisco Presbytery.
SPJC rescinds Presbytery’s action on procedural grounds, not on constitutionality of decision.
October 31, 2009, Appeal of Naegeli v SFP to GA-PJC in Indianapolis.
Ruling November 3, 2009, corrects procedures and requires the candidate's departure be considered only in the context of a full examination for ordination. Back to square one.
November 10, 2009
San Francisco Presbytery conducts examination for ordination of Lisa Larges, approving her ordination by a vote of 156 to 138. New remedial case and stay of enforcement filed immediately.
January 20, 2010
Synod of the Pacific PJC accepts the Parnell v SFP complaint.
September 23, 2010
Remedial Trial before Synod of the Pacific PJC.
September 25, 2010
Decision & Order rendered by Synod, in favor of San Francisco Presbytery.
March 20, 2011
Appeal Brief submitted to General Asssembly PJC.
July 1, 2011
Supplemental Brief submitted to General Assembly by PJC on Why the Passage of Amendment 10-A Does Not Render Parnell v. San Francisco Moot.
July 29, 2011
Appeal Hearing before GAPJC in Louisville, Kentucky. Decision follows within a few days.
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