wfn.org | Negative Votes Outnumber Affirmative Ones on Amendment A

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

18-February-1998 
98057 
 
               Negative Votes Outnumber Affirmative 
                        Ones on Amendment A 
 
                        by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-With nearly one-third of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s 
173 presbyteries having formally reported, negative votes on proposed 
Amendment A - the commonly called "fidelity and integrity" amendment - to 
the "Book of Order" outnumber affirmative ones 29-26. 
 
    Amendment A seeks to change the language of G-6.0106b, which received 
97 affirmative votes last year when it was being voted on as Amendment B - 
the commonly called "fidelity and chastity" amendment.  For Amendment A to 
pass, at least a dozen of those presbyteries that voted for Amendment B 
would have to effectively "reverse" their position and vote for Amendment 
A. 
 
    Of the first 55 presbyteries to officially record their votes, four - 
Lehigh, Middle Tennessee, West Virginia and Whitewater Valley - have 
reversed their position, but against Amendment A, not for it.  One 
presbytery, Northern Plains, has voted for Amendment A after voting for 
Amendment B last year. 
 
    More than 100 presbyteries are scheduled to vote by the end of February 
and another 50-60 during March, virtually assuring that the controversial 
measure will be decided before Easter. 
 
                          Proposed Amendment A 
 
    "Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in 
obedience to Jesus Christ, under the authority of Scripture and instructed 
by the historic confessional standards of the church.  Among these 
standards is the requirement to demonstrate fidelity and integrity in 
marriage or singleness, and in all relationships of life.  Candidates for 
ordained office shall acknowledge their own sinfulness, their need for 
repentance, and their reliance on the grace and mercy of God to fulfill the 
duties of their office." 
 
                                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 
in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a 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." 
 
    Affirmative votes on proposed Amendment A (26): Albany, Baltimore, 
Chicago, Des Moines, Eastern Oregon, Geneva, Heartland, Hudson River, Long 
Island, Maumee Valley, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota Valleys, New Castle, New 
York City, Northern Kansas, Northern New York, Northern Plains, Palisades, 
San Jose, Santa Fe, Twin Cities Area, Utah, Utica, Western New York and 
Western Reserve. 
 
    Negative votes on proposed Amendment A (29): Carlisle, Central Florida, 
Charleston-Atlantic, Cherokee, Dakota, de Cristo, Donegal, Eastern 
Virginia, Flint River, Huntingdon, Lehigh, Middle Tennessee, Midwest Hanmi, 
Mississippi, North Puget Sound, Pacific, Pueblo, Redstone, St. Augustine, 
San Diego, San Joaquin, San Juan, Santa Barbara, Shenandoah, Southern 
Kansas, Southwest, West Virginia, Western North Carolina and Whitewater 
Valley. 

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