October 8, 2004
by Shane Whisler
Associate Executive for Communications
Synod of the Sun

CARROLLTON, Texas - The General Assembly's passionate debate over ordination and marriage standards now has faces attached to it in Mission Presbytery with the filing of a complaint against the Rev. James D. Rigby, pastor of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin.

Though the source of the complaint is a surprise - a Presbyterian student at the University of Texas - Rigby said he expected such a complaint would inevitably be filed against him or a session member of the congregation nationally known for its strong stance on social justice issues.

The student, a freshman, initiated the complaint when he read in the campus newspaper that Rigby performed a 'gay marriage service' during an 'equity rally.'

The rally included both homosexual and heterosexual students. Some wanted to be married. Others asked for ceremonial blessings of relationships between straight and gay friends to pledge their solidarity.

Last year, Rigby said he expected a complaint to be filed when Paul Rolf Jensen, a southern California attorney and member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA, sent him a letter stating as much and accusing Rigby of ordaining an openly gay elder.

Though the two accusations were initially unrelated, Jensen prepared the complaint on behalf of the student after the student consulted with his pastor - the Rev. Bill Parr, pastor of Nor'kirk Presbyterian Church in Carrollton - and with Rigby.

Because judicial proceedings at this stage are supposed to be confidential, the student is not named in this story to protect his identity.

Parr said he added his name to the complaint in part out of pastoral concern for the student and his family. He also said that Rigby's actions were 'a blatant violation of the 0Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution.

'I told the student that I didn't like the concept of bringing charges against another minister, but it was a clear violation,' said Parr, a member of Grace Presbytery.

The student was urged to contact Rigby directly before filing the complaint. When they met, Rigby gave the student Jensen's name, saying that the student was struggling with to go about the process of filing a complaint. Jensen has filed nearly 30 complaints against ministers and governing bodies all around the country.

Rigby said he doesn't believe the case is about him, but about the issues facing the PC(USA).

'I'm hoping this will prompt real discussion,' he said. 'I honestly don't believe we've had the discussion we need to have.'

Presbyterian News Service