Southern New England Overture on Authoritative Interpretation of W-4.9000

[Submitted as a concurrence] The Presbytery of Southern New England voted by 61 to 33 to overture the General Assembly to provide an authoritative interpretation of W-4.9000 in the constitution of the PC(USA). The Overture came from seven churches: Crossroads, Waterford; First, Greenwich; First, New Canaan; First, New Haven; First, Stamford; Westminster, West Hartford; Wilton Presbyterian.

On Issuing an Authoritative Interpretation of W - 4.9000 to Ensure Pastoral Discretion

Teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders authorized to conduct services of marriage may, at their sole discretion, following the discussion required in W - 4.9002a, officiate at a service of Christian marriage for two persons who meet the legal requirements of the state and whom the elder determines demonstrate sufficient commitment, responsibility, maturity, and Christian understanding. Sessions may permit the use of church property for such services. Teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders may refuse to conduct such services, and sessions may refuse to permit the use of church property for such purposes.

Rationale

At this time over eleven percent of the United States’ population live in states or districts that permit same gender marriage. Around ten percent of PC (USA) congregations are located in those places. Additional states continue to consider expanding their definition of marriage to include same gender couples.

Decisions by our denomination’s General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission appear to permit teaching elders to lead and otherwise participate in worship services that celebrate same gender relationships that are not called marriages. Thus it seems it is permitted to bless a “civil union” in those states and jurisdictions where civil law provides this, but teaching elders may not perform same gender marriages in the places where that is available.

There is an acute dilemma for teaching elders, for congregations, and for same gender couples that are members of PC (USA) congregations. As the Synod of the Northeast PJC decision in Boston v. Southard notes, “While the action of the Reverend Southard to join a same gender couple in ‘Christian marriage’ is a violation of the Constitution of the PC (USA), failure to do so might be viewed as a violation of other provisions of the Constitution, e.g. G-3.0401 [new F-1.0404].”

This goes to the heart of ministry, pastoral care, and Christian community: 

• Individuals seeking the support of their communities of faith for their most significant personal relationships may be denied that support. 
• Congregations may experience significant hurt and loss when beloved friends and neighbors are forced to turn either to churches of other denominations which will perform their marriage, to abandon the idea of marriage in the church altogether and forego the blessings of building the relationship in Christian community, or even to leave church altogether. 
• Teaching elders seeking to fulfill their pastoral obligations as they in good conscience understand them may face disciplinary charges for actions authorized by the civil authority.

The requested Authoritative Interpretation maintains the traditional role of teaching elder in exercising discretion about the suitableness of a given relationship. Recognizing that both the civil and religious understandings of marriage have entered a time of flux and transition, the hope embodied in the requested Authoritative Interpretation is that individuals, sessions and congregations be allowed to seek God’s leading in the matter of marriage without fear of disciplinary reprisal, trusting them to act in good conscience, acknowledging the human potential for error.

Links:

• Overture Submitted (see above)
• Overture on PC-Biz