‘Sabbatical’ on Debate of Gay Issues Urged

Heard enough about sex and religion? Leaders in two major denominations--one Jewish and another Christian--say that they have endured all they want to, at least for the moment.

They are appealing to their national conventions to call a timeout on voting on such issues as blessing same-sex unions or ordaining non-celibate gay men and lesbians.

The pleas come as the Presbyterian Church USA wraps up its General Assembly this weekend in Charlotte, N.C., and as the Central Conference of American Rabbis prepares to open its convention tomorrow in Anaheim.

For Rabbi Richard N. Levy of Los Angeles, president of the Reform Movement rabbinical conference, it is time to turn down the heat. Controversy over blessing same-sex unions, he said, has brought “an increasing degree of anguished discussion.”

Conservative Presbyterians are sounding much the same theme.

“The entire denomination is weary of the kind of effort and cost that’s required from dealing with such constitutional changes,” said the Rev. Joe Rightmyer, executive director of Presbyterians for Renewal. He supported a call by the Presbyterian Coalition and the Covenant Network of Presbyterians for a denomination-wide “sabbatical” on debate over whether to ordain non-celibate gays.

For the last two years, the church has voted to keep a church law that declares that its ministers must live “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage of a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.”

No one expects the controversy--which has touched virtually every denomination--to go away. Indeed, those who are fighting for their faiths to be more inclusive when it comes to gay men and lesbians vow to redouble their efforts. Laurene Lafontaine, co-moderator of Presbyterians for Lesbian and Gay Concerns, was quoted by her church’s news service as saying, “This movement is not going on sabbatical.”

Nonetheless, there is little doubt that in some quarters, issues of human sexuality are wearing thin. That is one reason delegates to the Episcopal Church’s General Convention last July elected a centrist, the Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, as their new presiding bishop. One Episcopal priest said at the time: “We need to get on. You almost feel like the dog’s nipping at our heels all the time.”

There’s another reason blessing same-sex unions won’t come up this weekend in Anaheim, according to Rabbi Lawrence Goldmark, who is also chairman of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. The Reform Movement and other non-Orthodox streams of Judaism are fighting for recognition in Israel, and want to break the Orthodox monopoly over religious life. So blessing same-sex unions, Goldmark noted, just isn’t politically smart at the moment.

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES CONVENTION

Meanwhile, 25,000 delegates to the international convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses are expected at the Long Beach Convention Center, July 3-5. The meeting, the first international convention in 10 years, is one of seven being held in the United States and Canada.

All sessions are open to the public and free of charge, and no collections will be taken, according to Eddie Gilkey, news service coordinator for the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Sessions will be held simultaneously in Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese, as well as English.

Programs are planned on family life, managing stress and “finding joy in a troubled world,” along with numerous talks on eternal life. The meetings begin each day at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The Long Beach Convention Center is located at 300 E. Ocean Blvd., Long Beach.

MUSIC

The chancel choir of Arcadia Congregational Church will present “Irving Berlin: A Century of Song” today at 4 p.m. Tickets also cover a salad bar for adults, sandwiches for children and door prizes. Arcadia Congregational Church, 2607 S. Santa Anita Ave., Arcadia. Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children under age 10. Call (818) 447-8053.

* A concert, “Jesus Loves Me!,” will be presented by the 60-voice Jubilate Choir of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Orange at 7 tonight at the church, 185 S. Center St., Orange. There will be hymns, spirituals and gospel songs. An offering will be asked. Call (714) 288-4400.

* A recital by tenor David Lee Brewer and soprano Ann Marie McPhail will be held at 3 p.m. on June 28 at First Presbyterian Church of Inglewood, 100 N. Hillcrest Blvd., Inglewood. Included in the performance are duets from the operas “La Boheme” and “Carmen.” There will be a $10 donation.

* An evening of music and prayer to observe the anniversary of apparitions of the Virgin Mary, first reported 17 years ago in Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church, Thursday, 725 California Ave., Santa Monica. Rosary at 7 p.m., Mass at 8 p.m.

* Mendelssohn’s oratorio “Elijah” will be performed by the Holman Choir, orchestra and soloists, June 28 at 5 p.m., Holman United Methodist Church, 3320 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. Greg Baker, a New York Metropolitan Opera baritone distinguished for his performances as Porgy in the Gershwin opera “Porgy and Bess,” will appear as Elijah. Phone (213) 731-7284. Donation is $10.

* Temple Beth Zion-Sinai presents its 20th annual Cantorial Concert, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel, June 28, 3:30 p.m. at the temple, 6440 Del Amo Blvd., Lakewood. General admission is $12. Reserved seats start at $18. For reservations, call (562) 429-0715.

* A patriotic concert and ice cream social, “The Music of America,” will be presented at Covina United Methodist Church, 437 San Bernardino Road, Covina, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. The concert includes “Polly Wolly Doodle,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Also featured is a five-octave hand bell choir. Admission is free, but an offering will be asked.

GOSPEL RALLY

Disciples on the Move Ministries plans a Gospel rally at the Venice Beach pavilion June 27 from noon to 5 p.m. Along with preaching, several choirs are scheduled to appear, including the Voices of Gospel First African Methodist Episcopal Choir, the L.A. Mass Choir, West Angeles Youth Adult Choir and New City Parish Choir, as well as Brent Jones & the Mob. Evangelist Joann Daughtry is inviting other pastors, evangelists and missionaries to join in the outreach by calling (213) 953-9725.

FINALLY

All the controversy within Jewish communities from Los Angeles to New York over “who is a Jew” appears not to have hurt the fund-raising of the United Jewish Appeal.

In the past two years, many non-Orthodox Jews in the United States have warned that they would withhold or divert their contributions to the United Jewish Appeal because part of the money goes to Israel, where the Orthodox rabbinate enjoys a religious monopoly.

But United Jewish Appeal said its 1998 campaign appears headed to break the records, raising more than $618 million so far--5.6% ahead of last year’s campaign. The average contribution from individuals has increased 10%, the organization said.

The group’s campaign in Los Angeles is running 5.8% ahead of last year, according to Bonnie Somers of Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. So far, she said, $30.2 million has been raised here.

“American Jews are unwilling to allow disagreements within our family to stand in the way of fulfilling our fundamental obligation of helping other Jews in Israel, the former Soviet Union or in our own cities,” said national Chairwoman Carole Solomon. “We remain focused on our core mission.”

Notices may be mailed for consideration to Southern California File, L.A. Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, 90053, or faxed to the religion desk (213) 237-4712. Items should arrive two to three weeks before the event, except for spot news, and include pertinent details about the people and organizations with address, phone number, date and time.

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SLAYING IN TEXAS

The father of James Byrd Jr., the Texas man who was chained by his ankles to the back of a pickup truck and dragged to his death June 6 in Jasper, Texas, will speak at two area churches tomorrow. James Byrd Sr. will speak at the 9 a.m. service at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid Ave., Pasadena, and at 11 a.m. at Praises of Zion Baptist Church, 8222 S. San Pedro St., Los Angeles.

Byrd’s visit is intended to lead an ecumenical Christian witness against racism and to raise funds to benefit his late son’s three children, ages 16, 20 and 27. Byrd will be accompanied by his pastor, the Rev. Kenneth Lyons, at both services.

“It is crucial that we stand together to show our revulsion at this crime and our support for the Byrd family and the good people of Jasper,” the Revs. J. Edwin Bacon Jr. of All Saints Church and J. Benjamin Hardwick of Praises of Zion Church said in a joint statement. “No one is born a racist. Racism is learned behavior. Through concerted action we can unlearn it. No one is free from the evils of racism until everyone is free.”

Byrd will also participate in a radio call-in program from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on KYPA (1230-AM), to raise money for his grandchildren. Funeral services for his son, who was 49, were held in Jasper on June 13. Three men with reported ties to white supremacist groups have been charged with his murder.