As a congregation, Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church has in the past shown an openness, willingness, and courage to take on difficult issues ranging from civil rights, to women’s rights, to war, to inclusion of people regardless of sexual orientation as members and officers in the church.  Last year the Session of CHPC  provided ministry to members of our community by approving the use of our sanctuary for the blessing of a same gender couple’s wedding.   In order for us to be faithful to our call as the Body of Christ we have striven to do all these things through study, discussion, discernment and prayer, but most of all through the timeless Presbyterian practice of mutual forbearance and love for those with whom we differ.

We live in a city where  marriage is available and legal to everyone regardless of sexual orientation.   Our denomination, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), like so many of our fellow mainline denominations is engaged in discerning our way through a maze of differing opinion, beliefs, and biblical interpretations concerning sexual orientation and marriage.  And so we are called again into discussion and discernment on how to best represent the presence of Christ in our community while being faithful in our time and place to scripture and our Reformed and always being reformed tradition.

Resources:

Link to:  A summary of the March 20, 2011 congregational conversation.

1) Last summer’s 219th General Assembly approved both the Final Report and the Minority Report of the Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage and ordered they be sent out for study by the wider church. The vote was 439 in favor, 208 against, with 6 abstentions.  More about this action and both reports can be found here:   http://ga219.pcusa.org/ in the “Civil Union and Marriage FAQ”.

2) As for any official denominational position specific to use of church space in regards to same gender unions/marriage.  The Book of Order is mute on this because the only time the issue came up for vote was when the 212th General Assembly sent out the following amendment for approval by the presbyteries and was defeated:

Text of defeated amendment:

“Scripture and our confessions teach that God’s intention for all people is to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or in chastity in singleness. Church property shall not be used for, and church officers shall not take part in conducting, any ceremony or event that pronounces blessing or gives approval of the church or invokes the blessing of God upon any relationship that is inconsistent with God’s intention as expressed in the preceding sentence.”

The conventional wisdom is that this defeat was a convergence of usually opposing sides because the folks in support of same gender union/marriage opposed the definition of marriage language, while both sides objected to the sweeping open-ended language telling sessions and pastors how they can use church property and who and what can be celebrated and blessed.  The result being there is no specific prohibition of church property being used for such purposes.

3) PCUSA Book of Order:

W-4.9001

Christian  Marriage

Marriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the

well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract

between a woman and a man. For Christians marriage is a

covenant through which a man and a woman are called to live out

together before God their lives of discipleship. In a service of

Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman

and a man to each other, publicly

W-4.9006

Recognizing

Civil Marriage

A service of worship recognizing a civil marriage and confirming

it in the community of faith may be appropriate when

requested by the couple. The service will be similar to the marriage

service except that the opening statement, the declaration of

intention, the exchange of the vows by the husband and wife, and

the public declaration by the minister reflect the fact that the

woman and man are already married to one another according to

the laws of the state.

4) The most recent PCUSA Permanent Judicial Council decision concerning same gender marriage

5) Church of The Pilgrims, Washington, DC -  Wedding Policy

6) To hear a sermon on this topic given by Pastor Walton in May 2010 follow this link and then scroll down to “Who is in? and Who is Out?” 05-02-10.

7) Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church is a member of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians where other resources and information can be found.

A majority of the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) have voted to amend our Book of Order in a way that opens ordination as Elders, Deacons, or Ministers of Word and Sacrament to all people regardless of sexual orientation.

What this means in general is that local congregations, Sessions, and Presbyteries again have the freedom to elect, examine, and ordain those best suited for office within their particular communities.  What it means in particular for CHPC is that the compassion, courage and commitment behind what we have already been doing for 12 years is now affirmed by a majority of the denomination.

The wider perspective on all of this is not of one side winning and another loosing, but rather recognition of God’s Spirit moving among us in various ways according to our experiences, encounters and relationships with one another.  While some in our denomination and congregation celebrate these changes, others are disturbed by them, and so we must always remember the love of God in Christ that binds us is always greater and stronger than anything that divides.

Below is a plethora of information that you may wish to explore in order to hear what people in the wider church and culture are saying.  I am available to you for questions and discussion about this major change in our denomination.

Peace,

Andy Walton

Read a letter from National Capital Presbytery General Presbyter Wilson Gunn

The following is copied from the Presbyterian Outlook website.

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has dropped its prohibition on ordaining sexually active gays and lesbians – prompting some to rejoice in a move towards equality and others to lament what they see as the denomination’s spiritual decline.

The historic move will end a 14-year-old requirement that those being ordained as ministers, elders or deacons practice fidelity if they are married or chastity if they are single. That rule had survived three previous challenges, most recently in 2009, although the vote that year was closer than ever.

On May 10, Twin Cities Presbytery became the 87th presbytery to vote in favor of Amendment 10-A, by a vote of 205-56. Read more…

Your Online Holiday Shopping Can Benefit Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church – Please consider using http://www.iGive.com/capitolhillpreschurch

1. Join iGive.com for FREE;
2. Shop online at any of the 800+ stores in the iGive network;
3. Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church receives a check for up to 26% of each purchase!

email Pastor Andrew Walton

driving directions and a map.

CHPC is an accessible facility.

WORSHIP:  11:00 a.m.

FELLOWSHIP:  12:15 p.m.