HIGH GEAR/JUNE 1978

PRESBYTERIANS VOTE "NO"

--Courtesy Gay Community ordination. News, e/3/78

SAN DIEGO-After extensive committed debate, the full session of the General Assembly of the United presbyterian Church voted not to ordain practicing homosexuals as

ministers in their church.

Delegates from the assembly claim this action followed years of study concerning social, psychological, as well as religious aspects of homosexuality, and previous to the vote, found themselves shar. ply divided as to the matter of

The deliberative process over the last week resulted in some crucial points of consensus. A 56 member Committee on the Church and Homosexuality emerged from three days of discussion with two reports that disagreed on the ordination question but concurred in several key areas.

A set of proposals, that call homosexual acts 'sinful' was supported by 44 of the committee members. One such proposal counsels Presbyterians that our present understanding of God's Will precludes the ordination of persons who who do

SPIRIT OF BELLA

...Courtesy of Bay Area Reporover, and our enemies have ter, 4/27/78

Rep. Don Edwards (D-Cal.) has introduced a bill in the Congress which would place homosexualal rights within the scope of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The bill (HR-10575) replaces one by ex-Rep. Edward Koch (HR-7775). Koch is now

mayor of New York City. The original bill was introduced by Bella Abzug. Rep. Phil Burton (D-Calif.) has introduced a bill identical to Edwards' and is its sole sponsor.

Adam DeBaugh, lobbyist for the National Gay Rights Lobby, has expressed his pleasure at Edwards' willingness to reintroduce the legislation. He and other Washington activists are attempting to expand the number of co-sponsors in the House that supported the Abzug and Koch efforts.

DeBaugh is pleased at the progress that this legislation made in the 95th Congress in 1977. When Kock withdrew from Congress, it had 39 sponsors, 12 more than the Abzug bill.

DeBaugh believes, "We are slowly building momentum in the House. The job is far from

shown that they can win a vote against us in the house." He was referring to the House passage in 1977 of ar amendment to the Federal Legal Assistance bill which would have denied Gay people access to free legal aid. The amendment was later killed by a joint House-Senate committee.

The vote on the negative

amendment. DeBaugh believes, was educating as it gave Gays an opportunity to see who their friends and enemies were. The amendment was hurriedly presented without warning to any parties and was voted upon without debate. DeBaugh says that it is important that 133 legislators voted against the amendment. This is the first time most of those who voted has been faced with committing themselves on a Gay rights issue. DeBaugh says he wɛ. encouraged by the many NO vo 'S.

"We don't know when where they will try again, DeBaugh emphasizes. Meanwhile, he is working from his home base in the Washington office

of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches to gain supDort for the Edwards bill.

Rep. Don Edwards

not repent of homosexual practice.'

Yet another statement urged those in charge of reviewing candidates for the ministry not to make a specific inquiry into the 'sexual orientation or practice' of a candidate who has not declared his or her sexual preference.

The report also contained a condemnation of the

'widespread contempt for homosexual persons that prevails in our society' and voiced strong support for laws upholding civil rights for

homosexuals. However, while

not ordaining declared homosexuals, the church will welcome 'such persons' as members.

The two reports showed unanimity on issues of church membership, civil rights, and safeguards against what some Delegates feared would become a 'Witch Hunt' type of mentality in the screening of ministerial candidates.

Delegates used as a focal point for debate a long report from a special task force that had looked into the subject for 15 months after its establishment by the 1976 General Assembly. The task force was

UMBERTINO ELECTED

The Rev. Angie Umbertino, Pastor of MCC-Akron, was elected the District Coordinator of the Great Lakes District of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

The Great Lakes District is comprised of MCC church groups in Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio. Also elected for a two year term as assistant DC is the Rev. Ted. L.

Richmond, asst. Pastor of MCCDetroit. Both are 1977 graduates

of the Samaritan Theological Institute.

Reverend Umbertino

ELYRIANS WITHDRAW

The Elyria Gay Coalition has requested the local city council to remove the gay rights provisions from the proposed amendment to the 1978 Affirmative Action Ordinance.

In addition to protecting sexual minorities, the ordinance would prohibit discrimination against handicapped persons and people of varying political affiliations.

Local gay leaders recognized that the controversial "sexual orientations" provision would delay passage of the other vital protections the bill would provide.

James Case, a coalition leader, said "we will be willing to have the term "sexual orientation" taken off the proposed amendment under the condition that separate legislation dealing with sexual orientation be considered by council no later than one year after it is proposed."

Joan Barlow, Assistant A1firmative Action Officer for Elyria wrote the amendment. She said that she thought the gay rights coalition offered a "reasonable compromise to an uncomfortable situation for those involved." She hopes that

DOROTHY FULDHEIM

Before Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan began their drive to emancipate themselves and American women from chauvinistic male domination, before bra-burning and ERA, Dorothy Fuldheim competed successfull in a field few women would dare try.

She has survived as a television regular longer than any other person, locally or nationally. For the past 31 years, this energetic actress-turnednews commentator has been seen on television five times a week. She boasts a 99% recognition in the vast Northeastern Ohio WEWS (Channel 5) viewing area.

For over 17 years the

Duquesne Brewing Company sponsored her nightly news commentary, commentary often marked by visible outrage and anger at the unconscionable realities in our society. Her compassion and sensitivity to the plight of the poor and disadvantage and the cruel consequences they must endure as a result of their helplessness are the frequent subject of her penetreting and incisive analyses.

A world traveler many tirnes over, Ms. Fuldheim has interviewed the powerful and the rich, those controversial and remarkable. To her, Helen Keller demonstrated the genius of the human spirit and man's capacity to overcome seemingly in-

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made up of a broad crosssection of church members including social scientists, theologians, and laymen. The report, released January 23, included minority and majority recommendations that only served to increase the existing conflict.

Fourteen of the nineteen member task force underscored the right, covered by Presbyterian law, of each local Presbyterian to decide the issue for itself, andrestated the prerogative of each church to accept or deny individual candidates as minister.

The Rev. Umbertino had been serving as acting DC since the resignation of Rev. Martin from Chicago. She had organized the retreat-type conference held at Epworth Forest in northern Indiana, where the business meeting took place. Rev. Umbertino was recently on radio for a 2 hour phone-in show on WHLO, and has done several speaking engagements for colleges and churches in the Cleveland/Akron area. The church in Akron was also honored by having Mr. Joel Brown elected District clerk.

before a separate gay rights amendment is offered to council for consideration, they will have a "chance to educate council members on the problems faced by this segment of society."

The City council, responding to the angry anti-gay sentiment in the Elyria community, has been uncooperative in addressing the proposed amendment. In view of the defeats of similiar legislation in four U.S. cities within the past year, Elyria gays are not likely to see a majority of council support gay rights legislation in the foreseeable future.

surmountable limitations.

In 1932 she interviewed Adolf Hitler, who was not aware of her Jewish origins. She was profoundly distressed by the vision of what was later to become the tragedy this century.

To keep pace with events on this swiftly charging planet, Ms. Fuldheim reads 7 newspapers daily and a minimum of 5 books weekly. Ten and twelve hour working days are routine to this amazing woman.

High Gear salutes you, Dorothy Fuldheim, on the oocasion of your 85th birthday. We applaud your passionate commitment to equal rights for all people.