Layman will track
voting on three issues
The Layman, October 21, 2010
Presbytery voting on actions of the 219th General Assembly have commenced, as has tracking of the results by The Layman.
Using three online charts, The Layman will track votes on proposals to remove the fidelity/chastity ordination standard from the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order (Amendment 10-A), a complete overhaul of the denomination’s constitution (nFOG) and an addition to the Book of Confessions (Belhar).
So far, at least two presbyteries have weighed in on Amendment 10-A. The Presbyteries of the James and Alaska both convened on Oct. 16 and voted against amending G-6.0106b, which requires ordained officers be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman or chaste in singleness. Alaska did not concur with the amendment while the James vote was 152-152 with three abstentions. Ties are counted as a “no” vote.
To amend the Book of Order, a majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries must vote in the affirmative. A similar attempt to remove the standard failed in a 78-95 vote in 2008-2009. The James, which has traditionally voted in support of the current wording of G-6.0106b, saw a swing of 22 more presbyters voting in Links to voting charts
favor of the amendment and 38 fewer voting against it than in 2008-2009. Alaska, however, had three fewer presbyters voting for the amendment and one fewer voting against it.
At least three presbyteries have voted on the Belhar Confession, which requires a two-thirds super majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries for adoption into the Book of Confessions. Cimarron Presbytery in Oklahoma was unanimous (28-0) in its support of adding Belhar, while North Alabama Presbytery supported it by a vote of 53-3. Alaska rejected the proposal.
So far, the only reported vote on the proposed new Form of Government (nFOG) is out of Alaska, which had rejected the proposal. The nFOG proposal requires a simple majority of the denomination’s 173 presbyteries for passage, then a second approval by the General Assembly in 2012 for ratification.
For more resources related to these issues, and others facing the PCUSA, visit the Presbyterian Renewal Network’s Reclaim Biblical Teaching campaign.
To report a presbytery voting date or results from a vote, please e-mail laymanletters@www.layman.org. The Layman will report results as they are confirmed.