Opponents of ordination standards
get key win; more likely to follow
By John H. Adams, The Layman, February 2, 2009
The Presbytery of Western North Carolina has become the first in the nation to break ranks with the 127 presbyteries (73.8 percent) that voted in 2001 to keep the “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirement in the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
It was a major shift. In 2001, the last referendum before the current referendum, commissioners in Western North Carolina voted 187-100 (65.2 percent) to affirm G-6.0106b. On Saturday, the presbytery voted 144-108 (57.1 percent) to revise G-6.0106b.
Overall, the tally on the proposed revision of G-6.0106b now stands at 11 presbyteries voting to change it and 22 voting to keep it on the books as it is now. But the margins of support for the ordination requirement have trailed off in this referendum. If it continues that way among presbyteries that had close votes in 2001, the requirement could be defeated.
In 2001-02, 50 presbyteries that opposed repealing G-6.0106b had margins as close as Western North Carolina’s this year. That includes 12 with margins of 10 or fewer votes and 15 with margins of 11-30 votes. If all 50 voted to changing G-6.0106b, the opponents of the “fidelity/chastity” requirement would win by a vote of 96-77.
And even if the proponents of ordaining gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people come up short this year, they will declare that “close” is sufficient grounds to ask the General Assembly to approve another referendum.
How is it possible that the vote could change so dramatically from the 73.8 percent approval of G-6.0106b?
1. In 2001, the issue was repeal or approval of G-6.0106b. This time the presbyteries are considering a revision of G-6.0106b that eliminates the requirements and substitutes pious-sounding language about obedience to Christ. Compare the differences:
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 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.”
2. The flight of evangelicals
The number of commissioners voting in the current referendum is running below the votes cast in 2001. The greatest decline appears to be among evangelicals, both in terms of entire congregations leaving the denomination and individual flight.
3. The rejection of Biblical arguments
Only in a few presbyteries with a strong evangelical contingent have Biblical arguments prevailed. Many presbyteries have accepted statements that demean Scripture by rejecting it outright or declaring that those who draw moral conclusions from the Bible are misinterpreting the text.
Most recent votes on 08-b
Cayuga-Syracuse
1/31/2009
33
12
54-21
Huntingdon
1/31/2009
26
36
26-62
Santa Barbara
1/31/2009
20
85
39-101
S. Kansas
1/31/2009
35
69
42-94
Western NC.
1/31/2009
144
108
100-187
Past, current votes on ordination requirements