Assembly votes to delete ‘fidelity and chastity’ standard
By Robert P. Mills, The Layman Online, June 15, 2001
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Taking the most radical of the options presented to them, the Louisville General Assembly has voted: to remove G-6.0106b, the denomination’s “fidelity and chastity” ordination standard, from the PCUSA constitution; to revoke all previous authoritative interpretations on the topic; and to amend the constitution to provide a “local option” that would allow congregations and presbyteries to ordain self-affirming, practicing homosexuals.
The vote was 317-208.
In the first part of its three-part action, the assembly voted to delete G-6.0106b, “Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice with the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of Word and Sacrament.”
Second, the assembly issued its own authoritative interpretation of the constitution: “Interpretive statements concerning ordaining service by homosexual persons 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 denominational affirmations thereof, shall be given no further force or effect; and Section G-6.0106a of the Form of Government, together with the other prerequisites for ordination expressly stated in our Book of Order, hereby are affirmed as the sole and exclusive standards for ordination by ordaining bodies acting in prayerful discernment of the leading of Almighty God.”
Finally, it voted to add to G-6.0106a, which speaks of those called to ordained office, the sentence, “Their suitability to hold office is determined by the governing body where the examination for ordination or installation takes place, guided by scriptural and constitution standards, under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.”
In taking this action, the assembly concurred with the action of its Ordination Standards committee, which approved the action by a 31-25 vote.
The proposed amendments must be approved by a majority of the presbyteries before becoming part of the Book of Order. The new authoritative interpretation will not take effect unless the proposed amendments are approved.