How to be a politically correct Presbyterian voter
By Paula R. Kincaid, The Layman Online, August 14, 2000
What is the politically correct way for Presbyterians to vote in this fall’s election?
The Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church has produced the “Christian and Citizen 2000 Election Packet” to guide Presbyterian voters. While the packet does not mention any candidates or political parties by name, it aligns closely with the Democratic Party agenda.
The packet is designed to help individuals, congregations and presbyteries as they “wrestle with the issues of this year’s political campaign,” according to a letter from Elenora Giddings Ivory, director of the Washington Office.
“We have tried to identify the likely major issues of the national campaigns and to lay along side them the guidance as voted by the commissioners at various Presbyterian General Assemblies over the years. … General Assembly policy statements are to be seen as advice and counsel to Presbyterians as we contemplate our action on these issues in an election year,” wrote Ivory.
The recommendations in the 2000 Election Packet include:
Affirmative Action: Presbyterians should support affirmative action.
“The 1995 Assembly explicitly underscored support for the concept of affirmative action. The Assembly ‘reaffirms its commitment to affirmative action as a means to achieving equal employment opportunity and to undoing historical and institutional effects of discrimination based on age, disability, material status, race or gender.”
Sexual Orientation: Presbyterians should support civil unions for homosexual couples and condemn sexual orientation discrimination.
“The 1996 General Assembly ‘affirms the Presbyterian Church’s historic definition of marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman, yet recognizing that committed same-sex partners seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with all the civil rights of married couples.’
“… the 1993 General Assembly condemned state legislative efforts to discriminate against gays and lesbians.”
Gun Control: Presbyterians should support gun control efforts.
“… The 1998 Assembly ‘calls upon all Presbyterians to intentionally work toward removing handguns and assault weapons from our homes and our communities …”
Also quoted is the 1999 General Assembly’s action which “reaffirms the denomination’s position in support of legitimate possession and use of firearms in hunting, the maintenance of a subsistence lifestyle, target shooting, collecting, and other recreational sports.”
Privatization of Prisons: Presbyterians should oppose the privatization of prisons.
“The General Assembly ‘opposes the privatization of prisons as an abdication of responsibility on the part of governments and an abhorrent way of making profit by punishing prisoners.”
Capital Punishment: Presbyterians should oppose the use of capital punishment.
“In a resolution on violence in the society, the 1995 Assembly calls upon the church ‘to reaffirm and act on the specific recommendations of previous Assemblies regarding domestic and racial violence, creating justice for all in the criminal justice and correctional systems of society, establishing gun control and abolishing capital punishment.”
Hate Crimes: Presbyterians should support hate crimes legislation.
The 1989 and 1999 General Assemblies “supports federal legislation that provides enhanced penalties for violent crimes motivated by the actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or disability of the victim.”
School Vouchers: Presbyterians should oppose school vouchers.
“The 1992 Assembly reaffirmed opposition to federal tax support for private or parochial elementary and secondary schools through vouchers or any other means.”
Abortion: Presbyterians should support a woman’s choice to have an abortion, but should not support the use of abortion as a method of birth control. Partial birth abortion should be of “grave moral concern.”
“The Report of the Special Committee on Problem Pregnancies and Abortion adopted by the 1992 General Assembly affirms ‘ … no law should impose criminal penalties against any woman who chooses or physicians who perform a medically safe abortion … No law or administrative decision should provide for a complete ban on abortion.
“The 1992 Assembly went on to acknowledge the widely divergent and deeply felt convictions about abortion that are held by conscientious members of the church. It ‘affirmed the ability and responsibility of women who are guided by the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to make good moral choices in regard to problem pregnancies.”
The 1992 Assembly also stated that “We affirm that abortion should not be used as a method of birth control … The strong Christian presumption is that since all life is precious to God, we are to preserve and protect it. Abortion ought to be an option of last resort.”
The 1997 Assembly called the procedure known as intact dilation and extraction (partial birth abortion) of a baby who could live outside the womb a “grave moral concern and should be considered only if the mother’s physical life is endangered by the pregnancy.”
Federal Deficit: Presbyterians should support reducing the federal deficit by cutting military spending and raising taxes.
“… The 1990 Assembly urged both the President and Congress ‘to place the highest priority on developing a legislative program (a) to more adequately meet social and economic needs, and (b) to reduce the federal deficit. To the extent this cannot be done by reducing military or other spending, (the Assembly requests) them to approve legislation (a) to increase taxes and (b) to make the tax structure more equitable and progressive.”
Taxes: Presbyterians should support a tax structure where those with more should not only pay more, but be taxed at a higher rate than those with less.
A 1997 study and statement by the United Presbyterian Church (USA) General Assembly said an appropriate tax structure is to be measured by four criteria: equity – “The practical implication is that those who receive more should not only pay more taxes in an absolute dollar amount but also pay at a higher rate than those who receive less income;” moral integrity, simplicity and efficiency.
“In applying those criteria, various General Assemblies have called for a shift away from military expenditures and a greater investment in ‘imaginative initiatives for peace, health and welfare.”