wfn.org | Amendment A Is Officially Defeated

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

25-March-1998 
98109 
 
                 Amendment A Is Officially Defeated 
 
                        by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.-On March 19, the Office of the General Assembly formally 
recorded the 87th vote against proposed Amendment A, officially sealing the 
defeat of the controversial proposed amendment to the Presbyterian Church 
(U.S.A.) "Book of Order." 
 
    By press time on March 25, the official tally stood at 98 negative and 
47 positive, a more than 2-to-1 margin of defeat for the measure commonly 
called the "fidelity and integrity" amendment. 
 
    Thus G-6.0106b of the "Book of Order," which was commonly called the 
"fidelity and chastity" amendment when it was voted on and ratified by the 
presbyteries a year ago, remains intact as church law. 
 
    G-6.0106b states: "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." 
 
    Amendment A would have replaced that language with: "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." 
 
 
                     The official vote as of March 25 
 
Affirmative (47): Albany, Baltimore, Boston, Cascades, Chicago, Des Moines, 
Detroit, East Iowa, Eastern Oklahoma, Eastern Oregon, Genesee Valley, 
Geneva, Heartland, Hudson River, Long Island, Louisville, Mackinac, Maumee 
Valley, Miami, Milwaukee, Minnesota Valleys, New Brunswick, New Castle, New 
York City, Newark, Newton, North Central Iowa, Northern Kansas, Northern 
New England, Northern New York, Northern Plains, Ohio Valley, Palisades, 
Redwoods, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Fe, Southeastern Illinois, 
Southern New England, Susquehanna Valley, Twin Cities Area, Utah, Utica, 
Western Kentucky, Western New York, Western Reserve and Winnebago. 
 
Negative (98): Abingdon, Arkansas, Beaver-Butler, Blackhawk, Boise, 
Carlisle, Central Florida, Central Washington, Charleston-Atlantic, 
Charlotte, Cherokee, Cimarron, Cincinnati, Coastal Carolina, Dakota, de 
Cristo, Donegal, East Tennessee, Eastern Korean, Eastern Virginia, Flint 
River, Florida, Foothills, Glacier, Grace, Grand Canyon, Great Rivers, 
Greater Atlanta, Hanmi, Holston, Homestead, Huntingdon, Indian Nations, 
James, John Calvin, Kendall, Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lehigh, Memphis, Middle 
Tennessee, Midwest Hanmi, Mission, Mississippi, Monmouth, Muskingum Valley, 
Nevada, New Covenant, New Harmony, New Hope, North Alabama, North Puget 
Sound, Northeast Georgia, Northern Waters, Northwest, Pacific, Palo Duro, 
Peace River, Peaks, Philadelphia, Pines, Pittsburgh, Plains and Peaks, 
Prospect Hill, Providence, Pueblo, Redstone, Riverside, St. Andrew, St. 
Augustine, Salem, San Diego, San Fernando, San Joaquin, San Juan, Santa 
Barbara, Shenango, Sheppards and Lapsley, Shenandoah, South Alabama, South 
Dakota, South Louisiana, Southern Kansas, Southwest, Stockton, Tampa Bay, 
Transylvania, Tres Rios, Trinity, Tropical Florida, Upper Ohio Valley, 
Wabash Valley, West Jersey, West Virginia, Western Colorado, Western North 
Carolina, Whitewater Valley and Yukon. 

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