wfn.org | General Assembly Backgrounder: Sexuality and Ordination

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27-May-1998 
98185 
 
    General Assembly Backgrounder: 
    Sexuality and Ordination 
 
    by Alexa Smith 
 
Editors note: This is the sixth in a series of six backgrounders on major 
issues coming to the 210th General Assembly-Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--Although the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has rejected 
ordaining sexually active homosexuals and unmarried heterosexuals in two 
consecutive years of voting, fallout from those highly charged debates is 
still part of the business of the upcoming 210th General Assembly in 
Charlotte, June 13-20. 
 
    In bitter debates following the 1996 Assembly, the denomination's 173 
presbyteries ratified Amendment B, requiring of church officers "fidelity 
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in 
singleness."  A 1997 move - Amendment A - to change the sexual standard to 
"fidelity and integrity," allowing for broader interpretation of acceptable 
sexual activity for officers, was defeated by a 114 to 57 vote, with two 
presbyteries yet to vote. 
 
    The constitutional standard - G-6.0106b of the "Book of Order" - 
codifies what has been General Assembly policy (called "definitive 
guidance") since 1978: that "self-affirming, practicing homosexuals" are 
not eligible for ordination. 
 
    Approximately 90 congregations, called the More Light Network, declared 
themselves gay-affirming during those years and ordained sexually active 
gays and lesbians.  Baltimore Presbytery has filed Overture 98-59, asking 
that a special committee to consider the issue of ecclesiastical 
disobedience be formed, considering particularly the issue of congregations 
and presbyteries who "as a matter of conscience" ordain sexually active 
homosexuals and who dissent from current constitutional mandates. 
 
    This year Milwaukee Presbytery has submitted an overture (98-37) 
seeking to delete G-6.0106b. Utica Presbytery (Overture 98-67) wants to put 
another moratorium on legislation about sexual standards for ordination, 
this time for five years. 
 
    More substantive debate is expected this year on the question of who 
has the authority to issue binding authoritative interpretations of the 
constitution - the General Assembly or its PJC.  The Presbytery of 
Winnebago (Overture 98-17) wants that authority lodged with the PJC, which 
is apt to be swayed more by legal than political considerations.  St. 
Andrew Presbytery (Overture 98-10) wants the opposite: because the PJC is 
only a commission of the Assembly, substantive interpretations should be 
made by the Assembly itself. 
 
    Related to G-6.0106b, two presbyteries - Holston and Cincinnati - have 
filed identical overtures (98-45 and 98-54, respectively) asking the 
Assembly to guide youth into commitments of fidelity in marriage and 
chastity in singleness.  The overtures seek to instruct denominational 
entities that their activities, programs and curricula conform to that 
standard. 
 
    Abingdon Presbytery has submitted an overture to the Assembly (98-7) to 
require a two-thirds vote of presbyteries rather than the current majority 
to change the denomination's constitution. 

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