Donegal latest presbytery to switch;
10-A vote stands at 71 yes, 52 no
The Layman, March 22, 2011
Another Presbyterian Church (USA) presbytery has switched its vote from previously supporting the “fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness” ordination standard in past referendums, to now being in favor of deleting the requirements from G-6.0106b. The vote currently stands at 71 in favor of the changing the wording to 52 against.
This past weekend, Donegal Presbytery voted 83 in favor and 80 against rewording the standard, which would in effect allow for the ordination of self-identified lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons as well as non-celibate heterosexual people as ministers, elders and deacons in the PCUSA.
A simple majority of the PCUSA’s 173 presbyteries is needed to approve the amendment. Currently, supporters need 16 votes to achieve their goal.
Proposed G-6.0106b
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.
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
In the last vote on the ordination standard in 2008-09, PCUSA presbyteries defeated a similar amendment.
With Donegal’s vote, the number of presbyteries that have switched from support of the current standard found in G-6.0106b, to support for what progressive advocates call fully inclusive standards, stands at 14. They include Blackhawk, Central Nebraska, Cincinnati, Donegal, Eastern Oklahoma, Eastern Virginia, Indian Nations, Mission, North Alabama, Riverside, Sacramento, Savannah, South Alabama and St. Augustine presbyteries.
Lake Huron is the only presbytery to switch from voting yes to no.
Presbyteries recently reporting votes include:
- Donegal: Yes, 83-80
- Eastern Korean: No
- Nevada: No, 13-63
- Newark: Yes, 34-21
- Northern Plains: No, 32-34
- Northumberland: No 17-50
- Seattle: No 103-126
- Utah: Yes 30-25
- Whitewater Valley: Yes, 124-89
While no one is declaring victory in the voting yet, More Light Presbyterians, an advocacy group promoting full inclusion of LGBT in the life and leadership of the denomination is seeing “positive signs” in the vote totals reported so far.
In a recent e-mail blast from the group said, “The overall voting trend in the majority of presbyteries – even where we have lost, has been positive. And yes, if every presbytery yet to vote, votes the same way they did on 08B – we will cross the magic 87 and 10A will pass. All very positive signs …”
“The the numbers are shifting, good things are happening, and we are inching closer and closer to passing Amendment 10A,” the e-mail said.
The Presbyterian Coalition, an organization working to keep the Biblical ordination standards in the PCUSA constitution on the other hand, is telling supporters that “Some people are foolishly deciding that the outcome of the vote on Amendment 10-A (proposal to remove the “fidelity and chastity” requirement for ordination) has already been determined. The effect of such a declaration at this stage of voting is to discourage you from showing up and casting your vote. … Support for the Biblical position on sexuality is trailing, to be sure. But the outcome is not yet determined.”