12 presbyteries approve overtures seeking to delete G-6.0106b, authoritative interpretation
The Layman Online, November 16, 2005
Twelve presbyteries have approved or concurred with overtures to the General Assembly in an effort to overturn the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s ordination standards and rescind its “authoritative interpretation” regarding homosexual behavior.
At the 213th General Assembly (2001) held in Louisville, Ky., the hometown of the denomination’s headquarters, more than 30 of the 173 presbyteries sent or concurred with overtures on G-6.0106b, varying from deleting the clause, to rewording it or to declaring that adopting the clause was “in error.” That was the General Assembly that created the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Seven of the current overtures on the issue have been approved since the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity released its report Aug. 25 recommending, among other things, that no further actions dealing with matters of ordination be taken. The Presbytery of Baltimore is scheduled to consider a similar resolution at its meeting Thursday.
The presbyteries that have approved overtures to date are: Newark Presbytery; Presbytery of East Iowa; Presbytery of Lake Michigan; Newton Presbytery; Presbytery of Genesee Valley; Presbytery of Mid-Kentucky; Presbytery of the Twin Cities; Presbytery of Des Moines; Presbytery of Detroit; Presbytery of the Cascades; Presbytery of Western Reserve; and Heartland Presbytery.
The overtures, similar to one defeated in 2004, will go to the 217th General Assembly, which will meet in Birmingham on June 15-22, 2006.
The overtures, promoted by More Light Presbyterians and other gay activist groups, ask commissioners to:
“1. Provide the following authoritative interpretation: Interpretative statements concerning ordained service of homosexual church members by the 190th General Assembly (1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the 119th General Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all subsequent affirmations thereof, have no further force or effect.
2. Direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes: Shall G-6.0106b be stricken?” The Authoritative Interpretation is a thorough assessment of what the Bible teaches about homosexual behavior. It unequivocally says that homosexual behavior is contrary to the will of God and that self-acknowledged, practicing homosexuals could not be ordained.
G-6.0106b is the Book of Order requirement that says candidates for deacon, elder and minister must demonstrate either fidelity within the marriage of a man and a woman or chastity in singleness to be eligible to serve as officers. The action, if approved by the General Assembly, would nullify the 1978 and 1979 Authoritative Interpretations – first adopted by the United Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Presbyterian Church U.S. and later affirmed by the Presbyterian Church (USA) – and reaffirmed by later assemblies and court decisions after those predecessor denominations reunited in 1983.