A little over a week ago the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, voted 317-208 to remove the passage in our Book of Order that explicitly states you must be in a committed heterosexual marriage or a celibate single to serve as an ordained member of the church. This includes elders, deacons, and ministers. If my church paid any attention to this policy, I would not be an elder right now. In fact, I'm very proud to state that one of the many motions to remove the text was sent to the Assembly by my church, and that my pastor Joan Huff spoke on the floor in defense of it. Yay Northminster!

However, the vote is only one step of the Presbyterian process. 173 individual presbyteries around the country will consider the issue and conduct their own votes over the next year, and these groups are generally a wee bit more conservative than the representatives sent to G.A. I'm very nervous about how it will go, but I remember that I didn't really believe that there was a chance in hell our motion would pass this year either. I heard it mentioned on the NPR news last Saturday morning and promptly flipped out (leading to a long explanation of Presbyterian governmental practices for Patrick's benefit). Hearts change, prejudices shift, miracles happen.

Even as there is much rejoicing about the vote in my neck of the spiritual woods, I remember that there are those in the Presbyterian church who are deeply wounded by the decision made by the General Assembly, those whose faith has been shaken to the core, those who are filled with anger. Some of them are my friends. I simply pray that the Presbyterian church can continue to become a place where differing views are accepted within the broader framework of our faith in God and our love for each other. Sexual practices and our judgments about them become such petty things when they're brought out into the bright light of day.

It also bears mentioning that the G.A. did a ton of other good work this year, including a renewed commitment to fighting domestic violence, more resources allocated toward ministry on college campuses, and a planned investigation into the power systems that exist within our churches. Joan says that throughout the proceedings the group almost always voted as if they were of one mind, that there was very little of the divisiveness and rancor that has plagued us in recent years.

Joan's last Sunday with Northminster was this last Sunday, and to say that I will miss her is a vast understatement. She has been not only my pastor but my friend and my mentor. She recognized that I was eager to get involved more deeply in the church and coaxed me into a position of leadership where I am continually challenged. She leaves as Northminster's interim pastor to make room for our new full-time pastor, Julie Love. It also happens to be at just the time she needs to be with her husband Gene as he battles lymphoma. I have no doubt my path is destined to cross Joan's again, and in the meantime my prayers are with her.

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