That All May Freely Serve, the organization in the Presbyterian Church (USA) led by the Rev. Jane Spahr has issued the following statement in response to the apparent defeat of Amendment 01-A, the proposal to lift the ban on ordination of practicing homosexuals.

In response to the defeat of Amendment 01-A, TAMFS National (That All May Freely Serve) reaffirms our goal of and longing for a welcome and hospitable church. The Presbyterian Church (USA) is our church home, too. We are not going away! A large number of churches have said that this
decision is immoral, and that they will not abide by it! We salute them!

Janie Spahr reminds us of the spiritual costs of this decision in the lives of individuals and families. "The church's exclusionary policy betrays Christ's welcome. We're denying untold numbers of individuals -- seekers and confessed Christians -- access to the table of Jesus Christ. We are losing talented and gifted GLBT people and their families. Because of this inhospitable stand, the church risks becoming totally irrelevant."

Co-Moderators of TAMFS National, Virginia Davidson and Mary Rees, state sadly, "We as heterosexual allies are also diminished because these policies seek to divide us from our brothers and sisters in Christ."

Doug Potter, Co-Moderator of TAMFS National speaks of the great personal costs, "Our pulpits are going vacant and our pews are draining because people can no longer see the relevance of a church that says, "Some of you are welcome."

TAMFS will continue to capitalize on opportunities to build bridges with people who do not presently support inclusive ordination. The exclusionary policy has yet to be revoked. As TAMFS Regional Partnership Coordinator Lisa Larges says, "'A' is only the beginning of the alphabet."