wfn.org | Committee Proposes Change to "Fidelity and Chastity" Wording

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

17-June-1997 
GA97056 
 
              Committee Proposes Amendment to Significantly 
                 Change "Fidelity And Chastity" Wording 
 
                          by Jerry Van Marter 
 
SYRACUSE--In a stunning move today, the Assembly Committee on the "Book of 
Order" recommended an amendment that would significantly alter G-6.0106b, 
the commonly-called Amendment B.  The committee vote was 39-9. 
 
    If the General Assembly approves the recommendation, an amendment to 
the "Book of Order" will be sent to the presbyteries that: 
 
    * requires church officers to "lead a life in obedience to Jesus Christ 
under the authority of scripture" rather than "in obedience to scripture;" 
 
    * requires that they be "instructed by the historic confessional 
standards of the church"  rather than "in conformity" to them; 
 
    * requires that they "demonstrate fidelity and integrity in marriage or 
singleness, and in all relationships of life" rather than living "in 
fidelity within the covenant of marriage...or chastity in singleness;" 
 
    * states that "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" rather than 
demanding that "persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged 
practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or 
installed" as church officers. 
 
    The Rev. Laurie Kraus of Tropical Florida Presbytery introduced the 
proposed amendment as the committee's response to Overture 97-10 from 
Kiskiminetas Presbytery.  The presbytery had merely sought to remove the 
"everything the confessions call sin" sentence from Amendment B.  The 
amendment was ratified by the presbyteries, 97-74 with one "no action." It 
becomes G-6.0106b of the "Book of Order" at the conclusion of this 
Assembly. 
 
    Kraus said her proposed amendment "was borne of conversations with 
people on both sides of the [gay and lesbian ordination] issue."  She said 
she believes the church "can live with this while we seek to address 
foundational issues."  She noted that the proposed amendment would not 
nullify current General Assembly policy, dating to 1978, that forbids the 
ordination of "self-affirming practicing homosexuals." 
 
    The Rev. John Lohr of Palisades Presbytery agreed.  "This proposed 
amendment is an interim step -- it may not be `common ground' but at least 
its a demilitarized zone that may lead to holy ground." 
 
    Others disagreed.  The Rev. Dale Depue argued that "the church has 
spoken [by passing Amendment B] and we have to set aside our personal 
preferences for the sake of unity and order."  He said passing Kraus' 
proposed amendment was tantamount to "laughing at those in the majority of 
the Presbyterian Church who sincerely believe [Amendment B] is God's will." 
 
    Noting that the "popular vote" on Amendment B was very close (it 
garnered 50.6 percent of the total votes counted in the presbyteries), the 
Rev. Daniel Blackford of Southern New England Presbytery said, "We need to 
responsibly look at this again, to keep what is good and valuable, but to 
reform it so it is not so divisive." 
 
    The Rev. Bill Williamson of Middle Tennessee Presbytery agreed.  "I 
came to Syracuse thinking, `let it lie,' but I have found so many people in 
pain here that I have concluded that letting it lie is a luxury I can't 
afford." 
 
    Countered the Rev. Allison Vanderlinden of Beaver-Butler Presbytery: 
"Let's live with [Amendment B] awhile.  It was carefully worded and 
exhaustively considered by the presbyteries." 
 
    Debate on the proposed amendment is expected to reach the Assembly 
floor sometime Friday, according to Office of the General Assembly 
officials. 
 
    The full text of the proposed amendment: 
"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." 

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