Amendment 10-A voting chart:
Presbyteries vote for 6th time on sex issues
The 2010-2011 voting by presbyteries will be the sixth national referendum in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1996-97 on Biblical sexual ethics.
Known as Amendment 10-A, signifying its date (2010) and its place on the ballot (first), the amendment calls for a revision of G-6.0106b, the constitutional fidelity/chastity ordination requirement. Below is the wording for Amendment 10-A:
The 219th General Assembly (2010) directed the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:
Shall G-6.0106b be amended by striking the current text and inserting new text in its place as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added is shown as italic.]
“b. Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament. Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”
Following are brief descriptions of presbytery votes since 1996-98:
‘Amendment B’
In 1996-97, 171 presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted 97-74 to place a constitutional provision in the Book of Order. Before its adoption, that proposal was known as “Amendment B.” It is now G-6.0106b, which requires candidates for minister, elder and deacon to practice fidelity in their marriages or chastity in their singleness. In other words, it prohibits the ordination of self-affirming, practicing adulterers and homosexuals.
‘Amendment A’
In 1997-98, the presbyteries voted nearly two-to-one against a proposed amendment that would have replaced G-6.0106b. That proposed change, known as “Amendment A,” would have eliminated the constitutional prohibition against the ordination of adulterers and homosexuals.
‘Amendment O’
In 2000-2001, 173 presbyteries voted on a proposal called “Amendment O,” which would have prohibited Presbyterian ministers from conducting so-called “same-sex” unions. The presbyteries voted 73-99, with one tie vote, not to prohibit local sessions from determining whether to allow their pastors to conduct same-sex unions within the local congregation’s buildings. Many believed that the issue was more about the rights and duties of sessions and ministers than it was about whether same-sex unions are morally acceptable.
‘Amendment A’
In 2001, presbyteries voted 46-127 against Amendment A which called for extracting the “fidelity/chastity” constitutional standard required for the ordination of church officers and ending the denomination’s historic Biblical theology that says homosexual activity is sinful.
‘Amendment 08-B’
In 2008-2009, presbyteries voted 78-95 against Amendment 08-B, which would have removed the “fidelity/chastity” standard from the Book of Order. The standard requires that ordained officers be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman, or chaste in singleness.
Vote on B |
Vote on A |
Vote on O |
Vote on A |
||
Current Vote on 10-A |
Vote on B |
||||
Presbytery |
2010-2011 |
96/97 |
97/98 |
00/01 |
01-02 |
Abingdon |
No |
73 – 4 |
4-54 |
Yes |
No |
Alaska |
No |
19 – 21 |
13 – 32 |
No |
No (15 – 24) |
Albany |
Yes |
27 – 105 |
92- 44 |
19 – 80 |
Yes (74 – 28) |
Arkansas |
Yes, 120-42 |
91 – 115 |
52 – 81 |
74 – 94 |
No (92 – 96) |
Atlantic Korean |
No |
Yes |
No (0 – 32) |
||
Baltimore |
Yes, 108-36 |
52 – 119 |
100 – 43 |
33 – 120 |
Yes (106-56) |
Beaver-Butler |
No |
127 – 23 |
31 – 105 |
86 – 27 |
No |
Blackhawk |
Yes, 66-46 |
105 – 76 |
59 – 99 |
94 – 72 |
No (48 – 90) |
Boise |
Yes, 38-27 |
22 – 29 |
21 – 27 |
12-27 |
No (20-20) |
Boston |
Yes |
54 – 67 |
58 – 33 |
33 – 44 |
Yes (59 – 42) |
Carlisle |
No, 89-102 |
82 – 67 |
57 – 84 |
66 – 71 |
No (58 – 81) |
Cascades |
Yes |
185 – 223 |
177 – 159 |
145 – 189 |
Yes (179 – 112) |
Cayuga-Syracuse |
Yes |
26 – 78 |
70 – 26 |
15 – 50 |
Yes (54 – 21) |
Central Florida |
No |
131 – 38 |
53 – 157 |
114 – 44 |
No (74 – 225) |
Central Neb. |
Yes |
44 – 33 |
32 – 42 |
12-36 |
No (24 – 39) |
Central Wash. |
No, 12-54 |
71 – 29 |
19 – 87 |
63 – 23 |
No (16 – 70) |
Charleston-Atl. |
No |
64 – 23 |
20 – 65 |
66-20 |
No (22 – 93) |
Charlotte |
Yes, 162-154 |
208 – 123 |
98 – 212 |
167 – 124 |
No |
Cherokee |
No |
62 – 21 |
No |
81 – 32 |
No |
Chicago |
Yes, 185-61 |
167 – 325 |
257 – 163 |
89-169 |
Yes (247 – 170) |
Cimarron |
Yes, 19-9 |
19 – 20 |
14 – 18 |
21 – 14 |
No (16 – 20) |
Cincinnati |
Yes, 99-72 |
100 – 112 |
81 – 112 |
105 – 123 |
No (95 – 113) |
Coastal Carolina |
No, 113-192 |
206 – 84 |
72 – 202 |
126-86 |
No (84 – 247) |
Dakota |
not voting |
12-0 |
00 – 15 |
2-10 |
No (1 – 20) |
de Cristo |
No, 62-62 |
67 – 62 |
58 – 74 |
48 – 63 |
Yes (70 – 55) |
Denver |
Yes |
41 – 97 |
87 – 35 |
No |
Yes (115 – 69) |
Des Moines |
Yes, 64-29 |
50 – 71 |
60 – 39 |
38 – 63 |
Yes (69 – 46) |
Detroit |
Yes |
103 – 153 |
152 – 74 |
No |
No (102 – 111) |
Donegal |
Yes |
114 – 89 |
78 – 127 |
92 – 83 |
No (77 – 118) |
East Iowa |
Yes, 76-36 |
90 – 122 |
88 – 85 |
37 – 87 |
Yes (78 – 69) |
E. Tennessee |
Yes |
125 – 65 |
58 – 122 |
99 – 89 |
No |
Eastern Korean |
No |
26 – 00 |
00 – 34 |
Yes |
No (0 – 48) |
Eastern Oklahoma |
Yes |
53 – 62 |
59 – 56 |
63 – 49 |
No (43 – 86) |
Eastern Oregon |
Yes |
6-18 |
Yes |
8-15 |
Yes (17 – 14) |
E. Virginia |
Yes, 87-69 |
84 – 76 |
62 – 97 |
58 – 92 |
No (70 – 98) |
Eastminster |
Yes, 46-45 |
50 – 83 |
43 – 68 |
55 – 56 |
No (54 – 65) |
Elizabeth |
Yes, 63-46 |
56 – 91 |
No |
39 – 52 |
Yes (70 – 58) |
Flint River |
No, 26-54 |
64 – 18 |
18 – 68 |
39 – 29 |
No (20 – 71) |
Florida |
Yes, 49-36 |
58 – 50 |
39 – 48 |
38 – 45 |
No (42 – 66) |
Foothills |
No, 64-95 |
103 – 52 |
36 – 122 |
108 – 57 |
No (41 – 132) |
Genesee Valley |
Yes |
34 – 122 |
95 – 35 |
No |
Yes (89 – 61) |
Geneva |
Yes |
34 – 76 |
67 – 29 |
19 – 66 |
Yes (65 – 35) |
Giddings Lovejoy |
Yes, 100-39 |
103 – 154 |
103 – 89 |
55 – 116 |
Yes (115 – 106) |
Glacier |
No |
22 – 13 |
24-Oct |
20 -13 |
No (11 – 21) |
Grace |
Yes |
238 – 217 |
179 – 213 |
204 – 206 |
No (109 – 154) |
Grand Canyon |
Yes |
110 – 92 |
81 – 114 |
104 – 103 |
Yes (122 – 96) |
Great Rivers |
Yes |
102 – 105 |
77 – 122 |
112 – 79 |
No (99 – 108) |
Greater Atlanta |
Yes, 262-157 |
274 – 226 |
219 – 271 |
225 – 256 |
No (235 – 283) |
Hanmi |
No |
51 – 1 |
No (00 – 50) |
Yes |
No (0 – 70) |
Heartland |
Yes, 109-59 |
99-152 |
120 – 100 |
116-127 |
Yes (150 – 139) |
Holston |
No |
68 – 24 |
23 – 60 |
53 – 29 |
No (22 – 74) |
Homestead |
YES |
65 – 52 |
33 – 66 |
29 – 50 |
No (46 – 62) |
Hudson River |
Yes, 81-6 |
32 – 160 |
154 – 24 |
15 – 101 |
Yes (103 – 28) |
Huntingdon |
No |
57 – 31 |
30 – 52 |
47-40 |
No (26 – 62) |
Indian Nations |
Yes, 45-41 |
58 – 50 |
34 – 62 |
46 – 67 |
No (52 – 52) |
Inland Northwest |
No, 44-74 |
61 – 48 |
32 – 70 |
73 – 36 |
No (22 – 112) |
James |
No |
160 – 137 |
74 – 203 |
133 – 173 |
No (130 – 190) |
John Calvin |
No |
81 – 27 |
34 – 62 |
53 – 49 |
No (16 – 76) |
John Knox |
Yes, 60-19 |
55 – 83 |
86 – 54 |
57 – 67 |
Yes (66 – 62) |
Kendall |
No |
17-10 |
5-23 |
16 -12 |
No (8 – 22) |
Kiskiminetas |
No |
64 – 76 |
59 – 89 |
89 – 59 |
No (35 – 76) |
Lackawanna |
No |
45 – 53 |
45 – 29 |
32 – 47 |
No (26 – 49) |
Lake Erie |
No, 36-44 |
56 – 49 |
46 – 74 |
66 – 42 |
No (37 – 65) |
Lake Huron |
No |
47 – 64 |
46 – 48 |
21 – 59 |
No (42 – 64) |
Lake Michigan |
Yes |
70 – 116 |
83 – 63 |
55 – 92 |
Yes (82 – 59) |
Lehigh |
Yes, 68-48 |
No action |
39 – 57 |
51 – 54 |
No (50 – 62) |
Long Island |
Yes |
33 – 111 |
82 – 32 |
No |
Yes ( 87 – 28 ) |
Los Ranchos |
NO |
131 – 66 |
40 – 138 |
140 – 67 |
No (53 – 159) |
Mackinac |
Yes, 44-30 |
36 – 36 |
35 – 25 |
24 – 53 |
No |
Maumee Valley |
Yes, 67-39 |
60 – 80 |
68 – 58 |
34 – 84 |
No (51 – 70) |
Miami Valley |
Yes, 58-36 |
61 – 109 |
79 – 57 |
56 – 91 |
Yes (86 – 53) |
Middle Tenn. |
Yes, 93-86 |
74 – 120 |
67 – 111 |
91 – 112 |
No (95 – 118) |
Mid-Kentucky |
Yes |
55 – 119 |
108 – 50 |
22 – 125 |
Yes (113 – 63) |
Mid-South |
No, 48-49 |
89 – 58 |
48 – 89 |
62 – 70 |
No (59 – 99) |
(formerly Memphis) |
|||||
MW Hanmi |
35 – 00 |
No (00 – 50) |
51 – 0 |
No (0 – 44) |
|
(Did not vote |
|||||
No (not voting) |
so counted as no) |
||||
Milwaukee |
Yes |
27 – 82 |
yes |
23 – 80 |
Yes (68 – 35) |
Minnesota Valleys |
No |
53 – 61 |
61 – 54 |
49-51 |
No (44 – 60) |
Mission |
Yes |
163 – 203 |
153 – 181 |
179 – 209 |
No (164 – 235) |
Mississippi |
No (10/29/2010) |
53-15 |
10-57 |
52 – 15 |
No (9 – 55) |
Missouri River Valley |
Yes, 52-39 |
78 – 59 |
62 – 76 |
53 – 59 |
No (65 – 68) |
Missouri Union |
YES |
60 – 58 |
40 – 69 |
49 – 42 |
No (34 – 46) |
Monmouth |
Yes, 74-32 |
51 – 81 |
56 – 60 |
45 – 76 |
Yes (68 – 47) |
Muskingum Valley |
No |
99 – 70 |
67 – 95 |
70 – 65 |
No (51 – 117) |
National Capital |
Yes, 204-80 |
105 – 226 |
212 – 71 |
89 – 223 |
Yes (220 – 116) |
Nevada |
No |
37 – 25 |
22 – 47 |
41 – 18 |
No (20 – 41) |
New Brunswick |
Yes, 88-10 |
no |
112 – 60 |
54 – 128 |
Yes (113 – 50) |
New Castle |
Yes |
43 – 89 |
74 – 33 |
30 – 90 |
Yes (65 – 55) |
New Covenant |
No |
149 – 173 |
140 -165 |
143 – 141 |
No (120 – 214) |
New Harmony |
no, 28-72 |
101 – 35 |
No |
Yes |
No |
New Hope |
Yes, 158-118 |
140 – 172 |
124 – 128 |
122 – 174 |
No (153 – 159) |
New York City |
Yes, 89-31 |
53 – 154 |
76 – 11 |
22 – 93 |
Yes (61 – 31) |
Newark |
Yes |
26 – 61 |
48 – 25 |
36 – 57 |
No (34 – 40) |
Newton |
YES |
22 – 107 |
92 – 22 |
19 – 95 |
Yes (82 – 34) |
Noroeste |
No |
Yes |
No (00 – 61) |
Yes |
No |
North Alabama |
Yes, 36-28 |
60 – 18 |
26 – 45 |
37 – 34 |
No |
North Central Iowa |
No, 43-50 |
57 – 51 |
51 – 46 |
37 – 56 |
No (46 – 65) |
N. Puget Sd. |
No |
57 – 46 |
44 – 60 |
64 – 54 |
No (39 – 73) |
Northeast Georgia |
No, 75-87 |
78 – 39 |
33 – 68 |
65 – 61 |
No (44 – 101) |
Northern Kan. |
Yes, 69-20 |
21 – 97 |
79 – 46 |
39 – 78 |
Yes (73 – 49) |
Northern New England |
Yes |
66 – 66 |
70 – 52 |
27 – 68 |
Yes (75 – 40) |
Northern New York |
Yes (hand vote) |
13 – 47 |
44 – 10 |
No |
Yes (42 – 19) |
North. Plains |
No
|
46 – 18 |
45 – 39 |
33 – 36 |
No (35 – 51) |
Northern Waters |
Yes, 39-14 |
23 – 44 |
29 – 35 |
25 – 57 |
Yes (41 – 30) |
Northumberland |
No
|
46 – 26 |
22 – 47 |
37 – 36 |
No (28 – 51) |
Ohio Valley |
Yes |
40 – 69 |
74 – 71 |
37-55 |
No (74 – 90) |
Olympia |
No, 39-78 |
92 – 41 |
32 – 75 |
81 – 29 |
No (32 – 110) |
Pacific |
yes, 102-60 |
97 – 95 |
75 – 103 |
87 – 100 |
No (99 – 100) |
Palisades |
Yes |
31 – 67 |
71 – 21 |
25 – 67 |
Yes (59 – 33) |
Palo Duro |
No, 35-50 |
70 – 54 |
42 – 73 |
46 -56 |
No (36 – 64) |
Peace River |
NO |
85 – 57 |
48 – 84 |
79 – 51 |
No (37 – 105) |
Peaks |
No, 89-117 |
139 – 86 |
68 – 163 |
134 – 88 |
No (77 – 166) |
Philadelphia |
Yes, 180-103 |
255 – 197 |
155 – 246 |
218 – 221 |
No (176 – 221) |
Pines |
No, 36-44 |
68 – 51 |
22 – 58 |
29 – 41 |
No (31 – 45) |
Pittsburgh |
No
|
277 – 160 |
120 – 267 |
224 – 119 |
No (130 – 280) |
Plains & Peaks |
Yes, 73-51 |
68 – 87 |
65 – 73 |
69 – 63 |
No (60 – 91) |
Prospect Hill |
no, 22-44 |
62 – 49 |
30 – 67 |
52 – 26 |
No (24 – 62) |
Providence |
Yes |
60 – 30 |
47 – 56 |
20 – 80 |
No (38 – 63) |
Pueblo |
No, 22-49 |
48 – 36 |
36 – 53 |
43 – 38 |
No (25 – 77) |
Redstone |
No |
94-52 |
27 – 70 |
69 – 67 |
No (33 – 85) |
Redwoods |
Yes, standing vote |
39 – 147 |
86 – 49 |
30 – 90 |
Yes (102 – 49) |
Riverside |
Yes |
86 – 55 |
34 – 94 |
Yes |
No (18 – 94) |
Sacramento |
Yes, 80-76 |
101 – 73 |
66 – 62 |
72 – 85 |
No (69 – 106) |
Salem |
Yes |
153 – 143 |
141 – 156 |
158 – 167 |
No (160 – 187) |
San Diego |
No |
89 – 44 |
37 – 81 |
93 – 27 |
No (37 – 102) |
San Fernando |
No |
79 – 63 |
29 – 76 |
60 – 47 |
No (35 – 92) |
San Francisco |
Yes, 198-143 |
179 – 214 |
207 – 167 |
158-272 |
Yes (216 – 186) |
San Gabriel |
no 92-92 |
184 – 100 |
89 – 162 |
163 – 113 |
No (97 – 181) |
San Joaquin |
No, 14-32 |
96 – 13 |
5-95 |
yes |
No (3 – 79) |
San Jose |
Yes |
62 – 85 |
70 – 59 |
59 – 67 |
Yes (86 – 75) |
San Juan |
No |
66 – 00 |
No (00-47) |
Yes |
No |
Santa Barbara |
No |
84 – 52 |
40 – 94 |
81 – 40 |
No (39 – 101) |
Santa Fe |
Yes, 101-17 |
48 – 111 |
101 – 43 |
21 – 108 |
Yes (108 – 42) |
Savannah |
Yes, 40-33 |
54 – 9 |
14 – 45 |
Yes |
No (20 – 54) |
Scioto Valley |
Yes, 118-65 |
101 – 128 |
112 – 91 |
81 – 104 |
No (103 – 105) |
Seattle |
No |
159 – 118 |
102 – 133 |
138 -103 |
No (109 – 188) |
Shenandoah |
No |
124 – 87 |
89 – 120 |
No |
No (77 – 146) |
Shenango |
NO |
86 – 15 |
No |
Yes |
No |
Shep. & Lap. |
YES |
89 – 59 |
52 – 98 |
49 – 61 |
No (59 – 109) |
Sierra Blanca |
No |
21-34 |
24 – 21 |
15 – 19 |
Yes ( 18 – 17 ) |
South Alabama |
Yes, 34-33 |
47 – 19 |
15 – 47 |
34 – 13 |
No (18 – 49) |
S. Dakota |
No, 32-49 |
42 – 33 |
No |
43 – 27 |
No (22 – 66) |
South Louisiana |
Yes |
79 – 70 |
69 – 75 |
63 – 77 |
No (51 – 71) |
SE Illinois |
Yes, 67-51 |
83 – 81 |
77 – 74 |
71 – 67 |
No (69 – 77) |
Southern Kansas |
No, 33-66 |
84 – 70 |
47 – 82 |
71 – 58 |
No (42 – 94) |
Southern New England |
Yes, 89-41 |
85 – 106 |
104 – 68 |
47 – 92 |
Yes (109 – 72) |
St. Andrew |
No, 24-40 |
68 – 32 |
No |
54 – 36 |
No (11 – 86) |
St. Augustine |
Yes, 87-66 |
110 – 88 |
93 – 102 |
85 – 87 |
No (66 – 105) |
Stockton |
No |
42 – 30 |
15 – 42 |
35 – 20 |
No (14 – 44) |
Suroeste |
No |
yes |
6-27 |
5-10 |
No |
Susquehanna Valley |
Yes, 50-22 |
37 – 60 |
57 – 34 |
15 – 55 |
Yes (43 – 27) |
Tampa Bay |
No, 91-120 |
188 – 82 |
84 – 161 |
140 – 100 |
No (63 – 142) |
Transylvania |
Yes, 78-44 |
91 – 75 |
49 – 73 |
62 – 64 |
No (50 – 83) |
Tres Rios |
Yes, 35-32 |
42 – 32 |
26 – 31 |
42 -48 |
No (17 – 54) |
Trinity |
No, 63-80 |
110 – 35 |
35 – 105 |
No |
No (42 – 114) |
Tropical Fla. |
No |
112 – 69 |
No |
79 – 49 |
No (55 – 116) |
Twin Cities Area |
yes, 205-56 |
71 – 194 |
188 – 65 |
80 – 168 |
Yes (197 – 112) |
Up. Ohio Val. |
No, 19-43-2 |
74 – 42 |
21 – 91 |
64 – 24 |
No (18 – 80) |
Utah |
Yes
|
17 – 27 |
29 – 21 |
No |
No (21 – 32) |
Utica |
Yes |
10-51 |
46 – 11 |
No |
Yes (24 – 8) |
Wabash Val. |
Yes, 66-42 |
116 – 100 |
76 – 125 |
84 – 93 |
No (83 – 102) |
Washington |
No |
81 – 40 |
35 – 65 |
51 – 45 |
No (27 – 82) |
West Jersey |
No, 67-67 |
77 – 108 |
78 – 79 |
68 – 81 |
No (80 – 83) |
West Virginia |
Yes, 93-56 |
86 – 98 |
73 – 89 |
77-87 |
No (92 – 114) |
Western Colorado |
No, 13-29 |
34 – 12 |
9-34 |
Yes |
No (6 – 33) |
Western Ky. |
no, 26-37 |
20 – 29 |
38 – 29 |
23-23 |
No (16 – 52) |
Western N.Y. |
YES |
60 – 88 |
91 – 71 |
38 – 75 |
No action |
Western N.C. |
Yes |
187 – 100 |
106 – 144 |
136 – 97 |
No (100 – 167) |
Western Reserve |
Yes |
51 – 153 |
120 – 50 |
52 – 110 |
Yes (131 – 73) |
Whitewater Valley |
Yes
|
83 – 84 |
90 – 105 |
83 – 94 |
No (95 – 151) |
Winnebago |
Yes |
25 – 54 |
53 – 20 |
11-54 |
Yes (50 – 20) |
Wyoming |
No, 25-38 |
18 – 39 |
36 – 27 |
No |
No |
Yellowstone |
Yes, 27-25 |
30 – 20 |
18 – 25 |
31 – 21 |
No (29 – 37) |
Yukon |
No, 21-28 |
50 – 15 |
19 – 35 |
24 – 23 |
No (12 – 40) |
Totals |
97 (yes) – 76 (no) |
97 – 74 |
57 (Yes) – 114 (No) |
57 (Yes) – 114(No) |
46 (Yes) – 127 (No) |