Congregation leaves
in
support of gay minister
Presbyterians
uphold historic
sexuality standards
By Bob
Harvey
Special to ChristianWeek
MONTREAL–A rebel congregation in the Montreal suburb of Lachine has voted to leave the Presbyterian Church of Canada rather than give up its gay minister.
St. Andrew’s has been fighting for almost three years to persuade the denomination to ordain Darryl Macdonald as the Presbyterians’ first openly gay minister, and refused to fire him even in the face of threats from the denomination to remove the congregation’s elders.
The issue split the Montreal presbytery, which first backed Macdonald’s proposed ordination, and later reversed that stand. It also dominated discussions at the denomination’s last three general assemblies.
This year’s general assembly received a report from its chief clerks, saying St. Andrew’s defiance and the Presbytery of Montreal’s inability to deal strongly with the rebellion has hurt the whole church and brought its system of governance into dispute.
So on June 11, lay elders and clergy from across the country voted by a strong majority to give St. Andrew’s an ultimatum. If the congregation chooses to stay within the Presbyterian Church, its elders "must cease and desist from this contumacious (unyielding, intractable, obstinate) behavior," accept a new interim minister and begin a search for a permanent replacement for Macdonald.
"Godspeed"
"If they choose to leave, then we wish them godspeed," said the general assembly. Two weeks later, on June 28, St. Andrew’s held a tearful congregational meeting and voted by a narrow margin to leave the Presbyterian Church. Macdonald, who lives with his gay partner, said St. Andrew’s "has now shown the Presbyterian Church that its members are willing to leave over the issue.
