Fourth overture on marriage submitted to General Assembly
The Layman, January 18, 2012
Three more overtures have been submitted for consideration by the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), including another attempt to change the PCUSA’s definition of marriage from between “a man and a woman” to between “two people.”
Of the 20 overtures posted on the General Assembly website, four pertain to allowing same-sex marriages to be performed by PCUSA teaching elders (pastors) on PCUSA property.
The assembly will meet June 30-July 7, 2012 in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Declaring that “marriage is beyond gender,” Overture 020 from Hudson River Presbytery seeks to change the definition of marriage found in W-4.900 of the PCUSA’s Book of Order.
The proposed amendment strikes every instance of the words “a man and a woman,” in W-4.900 and inserts “two people.”
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“Changing the definition of marriage in the Directory of Worship would allow the church and its officers the option of also recognizing the life-long same gender commitments that many of our members are now choosing to make. It would make it possible for the Church to celebrate the love of God as it is embodied in their love for each other,” states the overture’s rationale.
In the states that allow “gay marriage, teaching and ruling elders would be relieved of the fear of ecclesiastical charges and would be able to respond equitably and pastorally to marriage requests by all, not just some, members of their congregations. No teaching elder or session would be required to perform services of marriage which would violate conscience.”The rationale continues that the “proposed change allows us to step more fully in line with the Bible and the Book of Confessions and to be the church that both our Scripture and our constitution have continually imagined, a church open to changes that support love of God and one another. (Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-37) … The proposed changes would grant all loving couples the right to have their marriages performed in our congregations, strengthening all our communities and families, gay and straight, since they allow us to recognize the love of two hearts declaring themselves to be a home to each other, before God, with gratitude.”
Overture 018 is from Southern Alabama Presbytery and if approved by the GA, would allow operational manuals to require adherence to certain theological and/or behavioral expectations. The overture would add the following to G-2.0104 of the Book of Order:
“Councils may publicize in their operational manuals any theological, ethical, and behavioral expectations that reflect prevailing Biblical and confessional interpretations of that governing body. These guidelines may be used to inform and instruct nominating and examining committees of a particular council.”
Southern Alabama’s rationale states, “The newest paragraph in the Book of Order pertaining to Gifts and Qualifications (G. 2.0104b) requires the use of the Scriptures and the Confessions as guidelines, but needs clarification as to whether Councils may use these guidelines to require adherence to certain theological and/or behavioral expectations. The intent of this overture is to clarify that a given council’s interpretation of Scripture or the Confessions is to not only inform the process, but require adherence to standards based upon those interpretations.”
Overture 019 from Detroit Presbytery seeks to clarify the duties of an investigating committee. It deletes the phrase “that, if proven true, would like result in disciplinary action,” from D-10.0101; then adds the following paragraph to D-10.0202:
“Review the statement alleging a violation to determine whether it alleges any facts that, if true, constitute an offense defined in D-2.0203b. If no violation is alleged, it shall end its inquiry and report that to the clerk of the body. If a violation of the Constitution is alleged, it shall proceed to the steps below.”
According to the rationale, “D-10.0101 states that the clerk of the body receiving the statement of allegations shall make an initial inquiry: whether ‘if proven true, would likely result in disciplinary action.’” The proposed amendment “allows an investigating committee to review the allegations as a first item of business, and, if the allegations even if true do not constitute a violation, can close the investigation.”