‘Fidelity/chastity’ affirmed
but both sides claim victory
By John H. Adams, The Layman, April 27, 2009
With both sides claiming a victory of sorts, the Presbyterian Church (USA) has extended the life of its prohibition against ordaining men and women who assert that their sexual behavior outside the bonds of marriage is a gift of God.
Unofficially, the vote against a proposed amendment that would have jettisoned the “fidelity/chastity” requirements stood at 89-69 after weekend reports from presbyteries, according to Presbyweb. The number required to approve or disapprove the amendment is 87, a simple majority. Fifteen presbyteries are scheduled to wrap up the voting between now and the May 18 deadline.
Terrry Schlossberg, who coordinated the national campaign by the Presbyterian Coalition to retain G-6.0106b, declared that, “It is time to accept the Church’s decision. Since the 1970s the PCUSA has heard, considered and responded to appeals to change her standard of sexual morality. Those who wish to change the Biblically-rooted standard have continually pressed the matter and required repeated votes that have had the same outcome each time. It is well past time to acknowledge that the Church today, as throughout her history, knows her mind on this matter, and that it is the mind of Christ. It is time to call for forbearance from those who constantly disturb the peace and unity of the church.”
But the advocates of the amendment – which would have eliminated the “fidelity/chastity” clause from The Book of Order – expressed renewed optimism that the denomination’s support for G-6.0106b is quickly eroding.
“The trends are clear: the Presbyterian Church (USA) is remarkably close to removing the barriers so that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people can faithfully answer God’s call to serve,” More Light Presbyterians said in its Web posting. “The witness of this ratification process across the country indicates without a doubt that a growing number of Presbyterians believe that LGBT persons and their families should have the same opportunities and responsibilities of full participation, membership and ordained service in our Church offered to their heterosexual sisters and brothers.”
Late in the campaign, after it became apparent that the proponents of the Biblical ordination requirements would win by a close margin, More Light’s Michael Adee told The Layman that his organization and its allies are preparing now to seek denominational support for same-gender marriages and other rights for LGBT Presbyterians.
The pro-LGBT advocates – More Light, the Covenant Network, the Witherspoon Society and That All May Freely Serve – have been emboldened by the deep erosion in support for G-6.0106b. In 2001, the last previous referendum, 73.4 percent of the presbyteries favored the “fidelity/chastity” clause. Through the weekend reports, the support was 56.3 percent.
In 2001, only 42 presbyteries voted to repeal G-6.0106b. That number has risen to 69, a 64.4 percent gain.
“Remarkable experiences of this national campaign include the 28 transformations in presbyteries that opposed ordination change in 2002 and now support ordination equality in 2009,” More Light said. “Some of those transformations in presbyteries came in unexpected places and traditionally conservative areas such as: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Montana, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.”
North Carolina’s five presbyteries had supported the ordination requirements since they were added to the constitution in 1998. But four of those presbyteries switched sides in this referendum.
Nonetheless, Schlossberg called on the denomination to move ahead with ministry to GLBT Presbyterians.
“Now it is time to live out the decision pastorally, leading people out of our society’s sexual confusion into repentance and newness of life,” she said. “The decision gives witness to the Church’s strong conviction that the Savior came to offer redemption to those held captive by any sin, including the prevailing sexual sins of our time. We have the Savior’s promise that he will care for us, forgive us, and tenderly lead us to repentance. This is the standard.”