wfn.org | Moderator Candidates Agree on Plea:

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18-May-1998 
98179 
 
    Moderator Candidates Agree on Plea: 
    No Sexuality Amendment This Year 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-While they were here attending the leadership briefing for 
the upcoming 210th General Assembly, June 13-20, the three announced 
candidates for moderator issued a joint statement calling for no further 
action this year on sexual standards for ordination in the Presbyterian 
Church (U.S.A.). 
 
    The 1996 General Assembly approved Amendment B - the commonly called 
"fidelity and chastity" amendment - which became G-6.0106b when the 
presbyteries voted to ratify it last year.  The 1997 Assembly approved 
Amendment A - the commonly called "fidelity and integrity" amendment - 
which was soundly defeated by the presbyteries as a proposed revision of 
G-6.0106b. 
 
    The only action submitted to this year's Assembly related to the 
content of G-6.0106b - from Milwaukee Presbytery - calls for its deletion 
from the "Book of Order." 
 
    The moderator candidates' statement was issued May 15, 1998, and was 
signed by the Rev. Richard C. Hutchison, the Rev. James E. Mead and the 
Rev. Douglas W. Oldenburg. 
 
    The full text of their statement: 
 
    "It is our hope that our denomination will not spend the 210th General 
Assembly (1998) or next year in the presbyteries investing major emotional 
energy around votes to further amend Chapter 6 of the `Book of Order.'  We 
need to move on, with all grace and sensitivity, and give our primary 
energy to the church's mission to proclaim the love of Christ in word and 
deed to all the world. 
 
    "Let's go forward in both accepting the action that has now clearly 
been supported by the General Assembly and the presbyteries for two years 
and at the same time, dealing with those who disagree in a spirit of love, 
forbearance and mutual respect." 

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