To the Editor:

I read with interest the proposed overture to our next GA by Baltimore Presbytery. This comes from what I understand is a presbytery dedicated to changing our standards of ordination to include GLBTs. Their agenda continues in spite of decades of solid majority rulings to the contrary.

The authors of this overture are, I believe, reacting to conservatives' attempt to call our denomination to account for its failure to apply discipline properly to those who are flaunting our constitution. In doing so, they have found the speck while somehow seeing through the log in their own eye.

Do they recognize the irony in their rationale? While a relentless minority-agenda within our denomination hold us hostage through demonstrations, endless motions, and outright violation of our constitution, they say,

"If dedicated minorities within the church do, in fact, require assemblies to meet and reconsider actions with a quorum that is substantially different from stated meetings, then the principle of government of the majority and the stability of the church may be at risk." (emphasis added)

Even more ironic is the lofty statement regarding process.

"The stability, unity, and peace of the church require that decisions made or accepted by a significant majority be allowed to stand until such time as they may be amended through the normal and standard legislative and judicial processes provided by the Constitution." (emphasis added)

The denomination has repeatedly spoken. The majority has repeatedly upheld traditional Biblical standards of sexuality. The ongoing violation of our constitution by GLBT allies (whom I believe are encouraged by many within Baltimore Presbytery) actually does threaten "the principle of government of the majority," even as they threaten "the stability of the church."

How can they (with a straight face) say, "it is equally important to provide protection to an overwhelming majority of the church from the dedicated zeal of a small minority," when, as just such a minority, they are dividing the church?

Tom Gray, Senior Pastor
Kirk of the Hills, Presbyterian
Tulsa, Oklahoma