May 12, 2011

Dear Newark Presbytery Pastors and Sessions, friends and colleagues,

I have attached what I hope is a helpful letter regarding this weeks' approval threshold being reached concerning the approval of Amendment 10-A. There are now sufficient affirmative votes from presbyteries across the country to change the ordination standards in the PC(U.S.A.) Book of Order. This change will now allow for the ordination of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who qualify for ordination as Elders, Deacons, or Ministers of Word and Sacrament.

I have attached this letter and resource links, along with links to a letter from the PC(U.S.A.) Moderator, Vice-Moderator, Stated Clerk, and Executive Director of the General Assembly Mission Council interpreting this major shift in our polity, and calling the church to a time of prayer and unity. There is also a FAQ sheet describing this change, and liturgical resources that your session may find useful. Spanish and Korean resources are also included.

I encourage you to share this information with your session, people in your congregations, and your neighbors who may have questions or concerns, particularly since there has already been significant coverage in the national, and some local, news outlets.

Should you as a pastoral leader, or session member, face particular challenges as news of 10-A’s passage filters through your communities, I hope you will contact me so that I can respond to your concerns and support your ministry. Remember that our Committee on Ministry and our Stated Clerk are prepared to answer your questions. We are in your midst to build-up and encourage your ministry and its gifts.

In the weeks ahead, we will be setting Conversational Spaces as an interactive way for our congregational leaders to process the recent Book of Order changes. These Spaces will be held at Presbytery Center. In addition, we will offer a multi-presbytery Conversational Space for pastors with Elizabeth and Palisades. We will post details soon.

All of us are brothers and sisters baptized into Jesus Christ—and we are called to honor those with whom we disagree. As we prayerfully move forward together as the Body of Christ - with unity, not uniformity - agreeing to disagree - we are committed to a common calling to live out the Good News of Jesus Christ among the 800,000 persons who live in the bounds of our presbytery. Thank you for your partnership in the Gospel.

Sincerely,

Dr. Kevin Yoho
General Presbyter