wfn.org | General Assembly backgrounder: Ordination standards

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Note #6520 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

8-May-2001
01158

General Assembly backgrounder

Ordination standards

by Jerry L. Van Marter

	After a self-imposed two-year moratorium on the constitutional standards
for ordination to church office in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the
213th General Assembly is poised to take up the issue that has divided the
church for more than 20 years.

	In 1978 and 1979, predecessor denominations to the PC(USA) adopted policies
barring ordination of "self-affirming, practicing homosexuals" to church
office.

	In 1997, the prohibition was codified when a majority of the church’s 173
presbyteries (district governing bodies) ratified a constitutional amendment
proposed by the 1996 General Assembly that reads:

	"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, 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." (Book of Order, section G-6.0106b).
A proposal by the following year's General Assembly to delete G-6.0106b was
overwhelmingly defeated by the presbyteries.

	The 211th General Assembly (1999) called for a two-year "moratorium" on
further amendments to G-6.0106b and asked all Presbyterians to spend those
two years studying "the unity we share in our diversity." Several amendments
submitted to last year's General Assembly were deferred to this year.

	Six presbyteries – Mid-Kentucky, New York City, Western Reserve
(Cleveland), Heartland (Missouri/Kansas), Newton (New Jersey) and Northern
New England -- have submitted overtures (resolutions) to delete G-6.0106b.
Those overtures have been assigned to the Assembly Committee on Ordination
Standards.

	Two presbyteries – Santa Fe and Hudson River in New York – are seeking
constitutional provisions that would grant a "waiver" to congregations
(which ordain elders and deacons) and presbyteries (which ordain ministers)
who cannot "in good conscience" comply with G-6.0106b. Those overtures have
also been referred to the Assembly Committee on Ordination Standards.

	And one of the overtures carried over from last year – from Beaver-Butler
Presbytery – would set in motion constitutional changes to allow churches
that cannot or will not comply with G-6.0106b to leave the PC(USA) and take
their property with them. Currently, all property is held "in trust" by
local churches but is owned by the denomination. This overture has been
assigned to the Assembly Committee on Peace, Purity and Unity of the Church.

Editors note: This is a background report designated for journalists and
other guests who will be visiting the General Assembly.

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