Say ‘No!’ to Amendment A
The Layman December 2001 Volume 34, Number 7, November 30, 2001
As we go to press, fifteen of the seventeen presbyteries that have voted have said “No!” to Amendment A. Our sampling across the denomination suggests that the trend will continue, and that this very bad idea will suffer resounding defeat.
What would A do?
- Eliminate the “fidelity/chastity” clause – G-6.0106b – from the Book of Order.
- Eliminate a denominationwide standard for ordaining ministers and elders.
- Allow sessions to ordain as elders self-affirming, practicing homosexuals and heterosexuals who engage in non-martial sex.
- Allow presbyteries to ordain as ministers self-affirming, practicing homosexuals and heterosexuals who engage in non-martial sex.
Why are Presbyterians saying “No?” Because they believe …
- that allowing everyone to do what is right in his own eyes results in chaos and division, not unity;
- that Christian leaders should aspire to a higher calling;
- that jettisoning 2,000 years of Christian faith and morals does little to honor Jesus Christ;
- that one should listen to the world church – that only a handful of the world’s 35,000 Christian denominations approve of homosexual behavior;
- that heterosexual marriage was instituted by God and blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ;
- that to love God is to obey his Word, which has spoken clearly on the ethics of human sexuality.
Why are Presbyterians saying “No!” to Amendment A? In short, because they are faithful believers.