Renewal leaders: Amendment O defeat confuses PCUSA’s witness
The Layman Online, March 14, 2001
The following statement was issued March 14 by members of the Presbyterian Renewal Leaders Network after the unofficial vote tally showed that Amendment O had been defeated.
We regret to acknowledge that 87 presbyteries have cast their votes in opposition to Amendment O, a proposal intended to affirm the sanctity of marriage. Most Presbyterians believe with Scripture that the covenant of marriage is between a man and a woman. However, in presbytery debates over Amendment O, many people focused on different issues, such as the alleged “rights” of ministers and sessions to conduct worship services free of interference from the national church.
The defeat of Amendment O confuses, rather than clarifies, the witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) on marriage. Our constitution does not allow same-sex marriages. However, within the last year, a loophole was created by the denomination’s highest court permitting the ceremonial blessing of same-sex relationships if such ceremonies do not look like marriage ceremonies. Amendment O would have addressed that loophole.
The defeat of Amendment O invites more judicial proceedings over the parsing of words. Judicial commissions will be asked to determine if the celebrants of loophole ceremonies regard their unions as true marriages. They will be asked to assess elements of these ceremonies to determine if they appear too much like a wedding to be permissible. In the meantime, our denomination will continue to be mired in controversy, fomented by those who demand that the church bless behavior that Scripture calls sinful.
The issue addressed by Amendment O is far from over. It will be before us again – notably at the General Assembly in June – in efforts to remove fidelity and chastity requirements from our denomination’s ordination standards. Until and unless God’s people take a definitive stand against them, these efforts will not cease until that union instituted by God and blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ has been stripped of all special honor and recognition.
As leaders of renewal organizations in the Presbyterian Church (USA), we declare that the lordship of Jesus Christ and his requirement that we obey the moral law are not negotiable. Church leaders who openly defy Biblical faith and ethics are pushing our denomination perilously toward schism. We confess that we cannot – and we will not – compromise the integrity of God’s Word.
Ilona Buzick
Presbyterian Elders in Prayer
Sue Cyre
Presbyterians for Faith and Family Ministries
Sylvia Dooling
Voices of Orthodox Women
Bob Dooling
The Presbyterian Forum
William Giles
The Presbyterian Coalition
David Hackett
Presbyterian Frontier Fellowship
Brad Long
Presbyterian Reformed Ministries International
William Prey
One by One
Shirley Prey
Presbyterian Elders in Prayer
Terry Schlossberg
Presbyterians Pro Life
Parker Williamson
The Presbyterian Lay Committee
Alan Wisdom
Presbyterian Action
Statements by the Presbyterian Renewal Leaders Network are made on behalf of its members. Organizations with which they are affiliated are listed for identification purposes only.