c. 2000 Religion News Service

LONG BEACH, Calif. _ The nation’s largest Presbyterian body opened its 212th General Assembly here Saturday (June 24), and as more than a thousand people gathered for worship Sunday, the strains facing the denomination were sharply apparent. Eighty-one people were arrested protesting church policies on gays.

Representatives of the 2.5 million-member Presbyterian Church (USA) are here through Saturday (July 1) for their annual meeting to set doctrine and policy. While church leaders hope the week will portray a message of Christian unity, the volatile issue of human sexuality is likely to obscure all other business.

On Sunday, more than 125 protesters led by the pro-gay Christian group Soulforce rallied outside the Long Beach Convention Center. Eighty-one people were led away by police, charged with blocking a public street _ a misdemeanor _ booked and released.

Sunday’s protest highlighted the divisive issues facing the church, including a proposal that it ban same-sex union ceremonies. In May, a church court said that because the denomination’s Book of Order does not explicitly prohibit such ceremonies, churches are free to conduct them. A similar measure passed in 1994, but the measure was not approved by a majority of the church’s 171 regional presbyteries.

The Rev. Mel White, a former ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell and now the leader of Soulforce, said his group came to Long Beach to urge the church to bless same-sex unions, and to protest a decision to not discuss gay and lesbian ordination until next year’s meeting.

“Justice delayed is justice denied,” White said before being arrested. “This debate, and the crazy policies of this wonderful church, must end.”

The peaceful, choreographed demonstrations were a stark wake-up call to delegates as they entered the convention center. Hecklers associated with the controversial Rev. Fred Phelps held signs that said “Fag Church” and cheered as the protesters were led away by police.

The church’s liaison to the Soulforce group, the Rev. Doug Oldenburg, a former General Assembly moderator and retiring president of Columbia Theological Seminary, said the peaceful protest reflected the need for a peaceful debate.

“What I hope is that this debate will be honest and respectful, and that we will all seek to discern the mind of Christ on this issue,” Oldenburg said. “That’s part of being a Presbyterian _ we do things decently and in order.”

As protesters rallied outside, delegates inside gathered for a colorful worship service and communion celebration. Freda Gardner, who was the moderator at last year’s meeting, made little mention of the gay issue in her sermon, but said the communion table was open to all.

“This table is not just for us here, but for everyone, and also for those out there,” Gardner said, pointing outside the convention center doors.

Delegates elected a new moderator to oversee this year’s convention, the Rev. Syngman Rhee, a 69-year-old seminary professor who fled Communist North Korea 50 years ago. Rhee, the first Asian-American elected to the post, told a news conference his greatest challenge will be trying to restore a sense of unity to the church.

“Our church is a very committed people,” Rhee said. “They are committed to their convictions, their beliefs, and that’s why we disagree and even get into conflict.”

On Monday, the commissioners, as delegates are called, broke into legislative and other committees to consider resolutions and overtures on a host of issues. The full General Assembly will vote on the committees’ proposals later in the week.

DEA END ECKSTROM