Two presbyteries vote
against changing G-6.0106b
The Layman , October 23, 2008
Vote chart The voting on the 2008 General Assembly’s proposed amendment that would end the “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirement in the Book of Order has begun with two presbyteries reporting strong opposition.
The Presbyteries of Central Washington in the state of Washington and Palo Duro in Texas reported votes that occurred on Oct. 18.
In Central Washington, the vote was 55-7 (88.7 percent) against the amendment, slightly higher than the 81.4-percent vote in 2001 to repeal G-6.0106b. Palo Duro’s vote against the amendment was 47-29, a 61.8 percent majority, slightly down from the 64 percent vote against repeal in 2001.
Both presbyteries also voted in 1997 to add G-6.0106b to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and against the 1998 proposal to eliminate the requirement.
The language of the change:
Current G-6.0106b
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.
Proposed replacement G-6.0106b
Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.