Philadelphia, seat of American
Presbyterianism, changes its vote
The Layman, March 30, 2009
Philadelphia, where America’s Presbyterians were first united in 1729, voted on March 28 to eliminate the “fidelity/chastity” ordination requirement from The Book of Order.
It was the first time since the ordination restriction was approved in 1997 and affirmed in 1998 and 2001 that the Presbytery of Philadelphia voted against the requirements. In 2001, the presbytery voted 221-176 to oppose a General Assembly recommendation that G-6.0106b be repealed. The vote on March 28 was 152-139 in favor of revising G-6.0106b to eliminate the “fidelity/chastity” clause.
The 1729 assembly was noted for adopting the Westminster Confession and its catechisms as the confessional standard of the Reformed body. Since then, the denomination has changed dramatically, spinning off several Presbyterian denominations. One of the most significant changes was the adoption of the Confession of 1967 and the beginning of a Book of Confessions that has grown to 11 documents.
The Confession of 1967 set the stage for a declining commitment to Scripture: “The Scriptures, given under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are nevertheless the words of men, conditioned by the language, thought forms, and literary fashions of the places and times at which they were written. They reflect views of life, history, and the cosmos which were then current.” (9.2)
One of the arguments made by the opponents of moral sexual requirements for officers is that the Bible’s references to homosexuality did not mean the same as it does today, although most of the world’s Christians believe it does.
Since the adoption of that confession, the membership of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has declined from 4.2 million to 2.2 million.
In the latest reports, two other presbyteries also changed their votes from favoring the “fidelity/chastity” clause to voting for taking it out of the constitution. Grace Presbytery approved the amendment 203-182. Western New York approved it 66-48.
Of the 11 reports from the presbyteries, only two were no votes to the proposed amendment. The other nine favored eliminating the “fidelity/chastity” clause. The number of presbyteries that have changed their vote to favoring revision of G-6.0106b has risen to 25.
The overall tally now stands at 81-62 in favor of keeping the “fidelity/chastity” requirement in the constitution.
Presbyteries voting no in 2001 and yes this time
Current vote on Amendment B
Vote ‘No’
on A in 2001-02
Yes
No
No
Western NC
144
108
100-187
Lake Huron
43
32
42-64
E. Tennessee
81
66
(voice)
Cimmaron
19
16
19-20
S. Illinois
68
56
69-77
Charlotte
133
124
124-167
Great Rivers
85
74
99-108
Maumee Valley
65
58
51-70
Scioto Valley
115
88
103-105
Los Trios
37
34
17-54
New Hope
177
139
153-159
Sheppards & Lapsley
77
75
59-109
Arkansas
116
64
92-96
Greater Atlanta
243
233
235-283
Ohio Valley
57
44
74-90
Yellowstone
25
22
29-37
Whitewater Valley
108
106
95-151
Eastminster
60
39
54-65
Transylvania
83
61
50 – 83
West Jersey
88
80
80-83
Mackinac
44
32
voice
West Virginia
93
56
92-114
Newark
42
8
34-40
Grace
203
182
109-154
Philadelphia
152
139
176-221
Western New York
66
48
No action (‘No’)
Presbyteries that could shift their votes
Alaska
(No) (15 – 24)
Boise
(No) (20-20)
Detroit
(No) (102 – 111)
Kiskiminetas
(No) (35 – 76)
Lehigh
(No) (50 – 62)
Middle Tenn.
(No) (95 – 118)
Minnesota Valleys
(No) (44 – 60)
Missouri River Valley
(No) (65 – 68)
North. Plains
(No) (35 – 51)
Pacific
(No) (99 – 100)
Salem
(No) (160 – 187)
South Louisiana
(No) (51 – 71)
Utah
(No) (21 – 32)
Wabash Val.
(No) (83 – 102)