70 percent of Presbyteries with close
votes in ’01 now oppose ‘fidelity/chastity’
The Layman, February 23, 2009
Of the presbyteries that have reported their action on the “fidelity/chastity” requirement in the Book of Order, 70 percent of what The Layman identified as “close-vote” presbyteries have switched from favoring the Biblical standard in 2001 to opposing it today.
The Layman identified 70 presbyteries where the votes against G-6.0106b were relatively close in 2001 and predicted that many of those presbyteries would change. Through reports of presbytery votes on Saturday, Feb. 20, 14 presbyteries had changed their votes and six continued to support the constitutional requirement.
If the 70 percent margin continues among the close-vote presbyteries, the proponents of ordaining self-acknowledged, practicing homosexuals and lesbians will pick up 49 votes that they didn’t have in 2001. So far, no presbytery has changed from opposing G-6.0106b in 2001 to favoring it this year.
In 2001, the vote against repealing G-6.0106b was 127-46. A gain of the 49 votes in close-vote presbyteries would give the opponents of the ordination requirement 95 votes, eight more than are needed to prevail. A majority vote in the 173-presbytery denomination is 87 votes.
On Feb. 21, four presbyteries switched their votes and opposed G-6.0106b – New Hope, Greater Atlanta, Arkansas and Ohio Valley. Five presbyteries that favored the ordination requirement in relatively close votes in 2001 did not change – James, Homestead, Lake Erie, Sacramento and Tropical Florida.
The tally among close-vote presbyteries is 14 switches to oppose G-6.0106b and six that did not switch. Overall, the vote stands at 34-45 against eliminating G-6.0106b.
Presbyteries voting no in 2001 and yes this time
Current vote on Amendment B
Vote on A in 2001-02
Yes
No
Yes-No
Western NC
144
108
100-187
Lake Huron
43
32
42-64
E. Tennessee
81
66
No (voice)
Cimmaron
19
16
19-20
S. Illinois
68
56
69-77
Charlotte
133
124
124-167
Great Rivers
85
74
99-108
Maumee Valley
65
58
51-70
Scioto Valley
115
88
103-105
Los Trios
37
34
17-54
New Hope
177
139
153-159
Sheppards & Lapsley
77
75
59-109
Arkansas
116
64
92-96
Greater Atlanta
243
233
235-283
Ohio Valley
57
44
74-90
Alaska
No (15 – 24)
Boise
No (20-20)
Central Neb.
No (24 – 39)
Detroit
No (102 – 111)
Eastminster
No (54 – 65)
Glacier
No (11 – 21)
Grace
No (109 – 154)
Indian Nations
No (52 – 52)
Kendall
No (8 – 22)
Kiskiminetas
No (35 – 76)
Lehigh
No (50 – 62)
Middle Tenn.
No (95 – 118)
MW Hanmi
No (0 – 44)
Minnesota Valleys
No (44 – 60)
Mission
No (164 – 235)
Missouri River Valley
No (65 – 68)
Missouri Union
No (34 – 46)
Nevada
No (20 – 41)
Newark
No (34 – 40)
North Central Iowa
No (46 – 65)
N. Puget Sd.
No (39 – 73)
North. Plains
No (35 – 51)
Northumberland
No (28 – 51)
Ohio Valley
No (74 – 90)
Pacific
No (99 – 100)
Philadelphia
No (176 – 221)
Pittsburgh
No (130 – 280)
Providence
No (38 – 63)
Redstone
No (33 – 85)
Salem
No (160 – 187)
San Gabriel
No (97 – 181)
Seattle
No (109 – 188)
S. Dakota
No (22 – 66)
South Louisiana
No (51 – 71)
St. Augustine
No (66 – 105)
Tampa Bay
No (63 – 142)
Transylvania
No (50 – 83)
Trinity
No (42 – 114)
Utah
No (21 – 32)
Wabash Val.
No (83 – 102)
West Jersey
No (80 – 83)
Western N.Y.
No action
Whitewater Valley
No (95 – 151)
Yellowstone
No (29 – 37)