wfn.org | Ratification of Amendment B is still trailing

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Ratification of Amendment B is still trailing [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102513671755&e=001iCdn4IcoqiVrwGHwD7SmbyyTGK1Zhw07BGzrSDGWDsVk032yrzxAJ1PnJ-27lImzJTSnGHln5O4GMXzZSvR8ucxiSEVXIE9SjwHxl7tIy1AexRCYcGn1M5b3NIb5IbdE6zxRpD1rEkw=]

With nearly three-fourths of the votes in, tally is 47-75, closer than last time
by Jerry L. Van Marter [mailto:Jerry.VanMarter@pcusa.org]
Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE - With nearly three-fourths of the votes in, a hotly-contested proposed
amendment to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Constitution is trailing. The amendment
- officially dubbed "Amendment B" - would replace the current requirement that church
officers live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman
or chastity in singleness" with a new G-6.0106b.

As of March 18, the unofficial tally is 47 presbyteries in favor, with 79 opposed.
The final tally will be certified and announced by the Office of the General Assembly.
The 122 presbyteries that have voted represent 71 percent of the PC(USA)'s 173 presbyteries.

A majority (87) of the presbyteries must vote to ratify the amendment proposed by
last year's 218th General Assembly in order for the new language to become church
law. If ratified, it would tie ordination decisions more closely to assent to the
ordination vows currently in the church's Book of Order without singling out a sexual
conduct standard.

The proposed new G-6.0106b reads: "Those who are called to ordained service in the
church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation
(W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of
 the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures,
and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In 
so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing
body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and 
G-14.0450) establishes the candidate's sincere efforts to adhere to these standards."

The current "fidelity and chastity" provision was added to the Book of Order in 
voting following the 1996 General Assembly. Two subsequent proposals to delete it
have failed in presbytery voting - following the 1997 Assembly by a vote of 57-114
and following the 2001 Assembly by a vote of 46-127.

All indications are that the vote will be much closer this year.

Twenty of the 127 presbyteries that voted "No" in 2001-2002 have voted in favor 
of this year's amendment. No presbyteries that voted "Yes" last time have switched
to a "No" this year.

If that pattern continues - with every presbytery that voted "Yes" last time voting
the same this year - 19 of the remaining 32 presbyteries that voted "No"  or "no
 action" (Western New York) last time would have to vote "Yes" this year in order
for the amendment to be ratified.

If each of the remaining 51 presbyteries voted the same way it voted in 2001/2002,
the proposed amendment would fail 66-107.

Presbyteries have until June 28 of this year to vote.

>The unofficial tally to date:

For (47): Albany, Arkansas, Baltimore, Cascades, Cayuga-Syracuse, Charlotte, Chicago,
Cimarron, Des Moines, East Tennessee, Eastern Oregon, Eastminster, Giddings-Lovejoy,
Great Rivers, Greater Atlanta, Heartland, Hudson River, John Knox, Lake Huron, Lake
Michigan, Maumee Valley, Miami Valley, Mid-Kentucky, Milwaukee, Monmouth, New Brunswick,
New Castle, New Hope, Newton, Northern Kansas, Northern New England, Ohio Valley,
Palisades, Redwoods, Santa Fe, Scioto Valley, Sheppards & Lapsley, Southeastern
Illinois, Transylvania, Tres Rios, Twin Cities Area, Utica, West Jersey, Western
 North Carolina, Whitewater Valley, Winnebago, Yellowstone.

Against (75): Blackhawk, Carlisle, Central Florida, Central Nebraska (tie), Central
Washington, Cherokee, Cincinnati (tie), Coastal Carolina, Donegal, Eastern Korean,
Eastern Oklahoma, Eastern Virginia, Flint River, Florida, Foothills, Glacier, Hanmi,
Holston, Homestead, Huntingdon,  Indian Nations, Inland Northwest, James, John Calvin,
Kendall, Lackawanna, Lake Erie, Los Ranchos, Mid-South, Mission (tie), Mississippi,
Missouri Union, Muskingum Valley, Nevada, New Covenant, New Harmony, North Alabama,
North Central Iowa, North Puget Sound, Northeast Georgia, Palo Duro, Peace River,
Peaks, Pines, Pittsburgh, Plains and Peaks, Prospect Hill, Providence, Pueblo, Riverside,
Sacramento, San Diego, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Joaquin, San Juan, Santa Barbara,
Seattle, Shenandoah, Shenango, South Alabama, South Dakota, Southern Kansas, St.
 Andrew, St. Augustine, Stockton, Tampa Bay, Trinity, Tropical Florida, Upper Ohio
Valley, Washington, Western Colorado, Western Kentucky, Wyoming, Yukon.

"No" last time, "Yes" this year (20): Arkansas, Charlotte, Cimarron, East Tennessee,
Eastminster, Great Rivers, Greater Atlanta, Lake Huron, Maumee Valley, New Hope,
 Ohio Valley, Scioto Valley, Sheppards & Lapsley, Southeastern Illinois, Transylvania,
Tres Rios, West Jersey, Western North Carolina, Whitewater Valley, Yellowstone.

www.pcusa.org/pcnews/2009/09223 [http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102513671755&e=001iCdn4IcoqiVrwGHwD7SmbyyTGK1Zhw07BGzrSDGWDsVk032yrzxAJ1PnJ-27lImzJTSnGHln5O4GMXzZSvR8ucxiSEVXIE9SjwHxl7tIy1AexRCYcGn1M5b3NIb5IbdE6zxRpD1rEkw=]

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