wfn.org | Negative Votes Continue to Outnumber Affirmatives on Amendment A

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

27-January-1998 
98032 
 
    Negative Votes Continue to Outnumber Affirmatives 
    on Amendment A 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-With 20 out of 173 presbyteries having formally cast their 
votes, negative votes on proposed Amendment A - the commonly called 
"fidelity and integrity" amendment - outnumber affirmative votes by a tally 
of 12-8. 
 
    The tally is of votes formally recorded by the Office of the General 
Assembly as of Jan. 27.  Forty-two presbyteries were scheduled to have 
voted by the end of January.  Another 56 presbyteries are slated to vote in 
February and 36 more in March. 
 
    Amendment A seeks to change the wording of G-6.0106b of the "Book of 
Order."  That section was approved last year as Amendment B - the commonly 
called "fidelity and chastity" amendment.  Amendment B was approved by a 
97-74 margin, with one presbytery voting "no action." 
 
    Seventeen of the first 20 votes have gone as expected, with those 
presbyteries who voted for Amendment B last year voting against Amendment A 
this year and vice versa. 
 
    All three of the presbyteries who have "switched" their votes this year 
have voted against Amendment A after having voted "no" or "no action" on B 
last year.  They are West Virginia Presbytery, Whitewater Valley Presbytery 
and Lehigh Presbytery (which voted "no action" on B). 
 
                 Proposed Amendment A ("fidelity and integrity") 
 
    "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 
either 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." 
 
    Presbyteries that have voted in the affirmative on proposed Amendment A 
(8) are Eastern Oregon, Heartland, Miami, Minnesota Valleys, New Castle, 
Northern New York, Twin Cities Area and Utah. 
 
    Presbyteries that have vote in the negative on proposed Amendment A 
(12) are Central Florida, Charleston-Atlantic, Cherokee, Flint River, 
Lehigh, Midwest Hanmi, North Puget Sound, Redstone, Shenandoah, Southwest, 
West Virginia and Whitewater Valley. 

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