wfn.org | Votes Are Even on Amendment A, Both Sides Are Optimistic

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

4-February-1998 
98043 
 
    Votes Are Even on Amendment A, Both Sides Are Optimistic 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter and Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-The first 34 presbytery votes on proposed Amendment A to 
the "Book of Order" - the commonly called "fidelity and integrity" 
amendment - are evenly divided and advocates on both sides are optimistic 
about the final outcome of the controversial proposal. 
 
    According to the Office of the General Assembly's official tally as of 
Feb. 3, the proposed amendment to G-6.0106b - the former Amendment B, or 
"fidelity and chastity" amendment - had received 17 affirmative and 17 
negative votes. 
 
    The votes to date "are about on track with our expectations," said 
Pamela Byers, executive director of the Covenant Network, a group working 
for the passage of Amendment A.  "We still have a good chance." 
 
    Amendment A seeks to change the language of G-6.0106b, which received 
97 affirmative votes last year when it was being voted on as Amendment B. 
For Amendment A to pass, at least a dozen of those presbyteries that voted 
for Amendment B would have to effectively "reverse" their position and vote 
for Amendment A. 
 
    Of the first 34 presbyteries to officially record their votes, three - 
Whitewater Valley, West Virginia and Lehigh - have reversed their position, 
but against Amendment A, not for it.  Byers cited a "happy surprise" - a 
reported reversal in favor of Amendment A by Northern Plains Presbytery, 
which supported Amendment B last year.  Northern Plains Presbytery has not 
officially recorded its vote to date. 
 
    Meanwhile, members of the Presbyterian Coalition (PC), who oppose 
Amendment A, continue to work toward its defeat.  "I'm not predicting a 
landslide," said the Rev. Jack Haberer of Houston, president of the group. 
"But I'm hoping that we'll have a wider range of victory this year than 
last." 
 
    Haberer said many Coalition members are encouraged by the amendment 
voting through December, adding that, according to the group's analysis of 
voting patterns, "we would be happy to come out of January in a tied vote 
status." 
 
    Both groups are looking beyond the Amendment A voting to a continuing 
role in the theological discussions in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). 
 
    "Yes, we want to keep going," Byers told the Presbyterian News Service. 
"Our board meets next month to flesh out the details, but we want to 
continue enhancing communication and theological reflection for the 
`moderate middle' of the church and the entire denomination." 
 
    Byers conceded that she didn't know if Amendment A will pass, "but 
people are focused and energized and that's just as important." 
 
    Haberer said Presbyterian Coalition members have many tasks ahead of 
them, including 
    *  preparing for a third "Gathering of Presbyterians" sometime in the 
       fall 
    *  formulating a vision of the church's future through the Coalition's 
       Visioning Task Force 
    *  preparing for the upcoming General Assembly in Charlotte 
    *  connecting with allies in other mainline denominations who are 
       working on similar issues. 
 
    Though the heated debate over first Amendment B and now Amendment A has 
produced talk of schism, both sides heatedly denied that is what they seek 
or expect. 
 
    "The only thing that will make this issue [standards of ordination] go 
away is a split of the church," Byers said, "and that is a cure that is 
worse than the disease." 
 
        "We're not interested in an overthrow of the church," Haberer told 
the Presbyterian News Service. "But we are deeply committed to preserving 
not only its peace and unity, but also the truth and purity of the church 
as well. We are going to continue working toward those ends, it looks like, 
well into the long, distant future." 
 
                       Proposed Amendment A 
 
    "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 
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." 
 
    Affirmative votes on proposed Amendment A (17): Baltimore, Eastern 
Oregon, Heartland, Long Island, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota Valleys, New 
Castle, New York City, Northern New York, Northern Waters, Palisades, Santa 
Fe, Twin Cities Area, Utah, Utica and Western New York. 
 
    Negative votes on proposed Amendment A (17): Central Florida, 
Charleston-Atlantic, Cherokee, Donegal, Eastern Virginia, Flint River, 
Huntingdon, Lehigh, Midwest Hanmi, Mississippi, North Puget Sound, 
Redstone, Shenandoah, Southwest, West Virginia, Western North Carolina and 
Whitewater Valley. 

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