wfn.org | Voting on the "Fidelity and Chastity" Amendment: Editor's Note

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5-December-1996 
 
 
96484         Voting on the "Fidelity and Chastity"  
                     Amendment: Editor's Note 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
     Beginning with this issue of NEWS BRIEFS, the Presbyterian News 
Service will regularly report on the progress of the voting on Amendment B, 
the so-called "Fidelity and Chastity" amendment. 
 
     TO INSURE COMPLETE ACCURACY, we will report ONLY those presbytery 
votes that have been formally filed with the Office of the General 
Assembly.  The Presbyterian grapevine is extensive and (surprise!) subject 
to error, so varying reports of the voting will be floating around. 
 
     But the only tally that matters, when all is said and done, is the 
formal tally maintained by the Office of the General Assembly.  Therefore, 
that will be the information reported regularly in NEWS BRIEFS. 
 
     As of December 3, 1996, the vote was two presbyteries voting in favor 
of the amendment, two voting in opposition.  Those presbyteries voting in 
favor were Charleston-Atlantic and Inland Northwest. Those presbyteries 
voting in opposition were Eastern Oregon and Utica. 
 
     The full text of the amendment, which would be added to section 
G-6.0106 of "The Book of Order," is: 
 
     "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 one man and one 
woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness.  Persons refusing to repent of 
any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be 
ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders or ministers of the Word and 
Sacrament." 

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