wfn.org | Voting Tightens on "Fidelity and Chastity"

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

12-February-1997 
97085 
 
           Voting Tightens on "Fidelity and Chastity,"  
                        "COCU" Amendments 
 
                      by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--With nearly one-third of the 171 presbyteries reporting, 
negative votes outnumber affirmative votes 30-25 on Amendment B, the 
so-called "fidelity and chastity" amendment to the "Book of Order," but the 
margin has narrowed since the last Presbyterian News Service report a week 
ago. 
 
     The margin on Amendment C, the implementing amendments for the 
Consultation on Church Union, or COCU, is even narrower.  The official 
count on Amendment C as of Feb. 11, maintained by the Office of the General 
Assembly (OGA), is 23 affirmative, 21 negative and two "no action." 
 
     A majority of the 171 presbyteries -- 86 -- must vote in the 
affirmative for the amendments to be incorporated into the "Book of Order." 
To ensure complete accuracy, the Presbyterian News Service will only report 
those presbytery votes that have been formally filed with OGA. 
 
               Amendment B (Fidelity and Chastity) 
 
Affirmative (25): Beaver-Butler, Central Florida, Charleston-Atlantic, 
Cherokee, de Cristo, Donegal, Eastern Virginia, Flint River, Holston, 
Inland Northwest, Midwest Hanmi, Mississippi, Muskingum Valley, Noroeste, 
Palo Duro, Peaks, Philadelphia, Salem, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, 
Shenango, Sheppards & Lapsley, Suroeste, Western North Carolina and Yukon. 
 
Negative (30): Boise, Chicago, Des Moines, Eastern Oregon, Eastminster, 
Genesee Valley, Giddings-Lovejoy, Heartland, Hudson River, Louisville, 
Milwaukee, Minnesota Valleys, Monmouth, National Capital, New York City, 
Northern Kansas, Ohio Valley, Palisades, Redwoods, San Francisco, San Jose, 
Santa Fe, Sierra Blanca, Twin Cities Area, Utica, West Virginia, Western 
Kentucky, Western New York, Whitewater Valley and Wyoming. 
 
                        Amendment C (COCU) 
 
Affirmative (23): Baltimore, Cherokee, Chicago, Des Moines, Eastern Oregon, 
Heartland, Hudson River, Louisville, Midwest Hanmi, Milwaukee, Minnesota 
Valleys, Monmouth, New Castle, New York City, Northern Kansas, Redwoods, 
Salem, Santa Fe, Sierra Blanca, Twin Cities Area, West Virginia, Western 
Kentucky and Yukon. 
 
Negative (21): Boise, Central Florida, Charleston-Atlantic, Eastern 
Virginia, Flint River, Geneva, Holston, Inland Northwest, Los Ranchos, 
Mississippi, Muskingum Valley, Palo Duro, Peaks, San Francisco, San 
Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Shenandoah, Shenango, Suroeste, Western North 
Carolina and Whitewater Valley. 
 
No Action (2): Noroeste and Wyoming. 

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