The rift in the Presbyterian Church (USA) over actively homosexual clergy has reached another critical point, with developments in two important cases.
In one, the Permanent Judicial Commission or supreme court of the 3.5 million-member denomination has overruled protests against the ordination of the Rev. Kathleen Morrison, a lesbian who is open about her sexual orientation.
In a separate case, the commission ordered an unusual trial next Monday in Kansas City, Mo., on whether the denomination's two top officials acted properly in scuttling a special national assembly. Conservatives had filed a petition for the assembly to discipline those defying the church's ban on actively homosexual clergy.
In the Morrison case, the commission said sexual orientation does not warrant special scrutiny of a clergy candidate or make anyone ineligible for ordination. It said the church can only act upon "direct and specific knowledge" of individual conduct that violates church policy.
Morrison, who was ordained in California, has moved to Massachusetts and lives with a partner. She is field organizer for an independent caucus of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Presbyterians.
Next week's trial involves a complaint from Westminster Presbyterian Church of Canton, Ohio, against handling of the petition by the Rev. Fahed Abu-Akel, titular head of the church this year, and the Rev. Clifton Kirkpatrick, chief executive at church headquarters.