wfn.org | Early returns show Amendment A is in trouble

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6952 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

26-November-2001
01433

Early returns show Amendment A is in trouble

22 of first 24 presbyteries to vote would keep "fidelity/chastity" provision

by Jerry L. Van Marter

LOUISVILLE - With about 15 percent of the votes in, Amendment A - which
would delete G-6.0106b from the Book of Order - has been rejected by 22 of
24 presbyteries.

	A majority of the presbyteries - 87of 173 - must vote to ratify the
amendment in order for it to take effect.

	While the number of presbyteries that have voted is small, there is no
indication that the church's mind has changed since the last attempt to
delete G-6.0106b in 1997, when a similar proposed amendment was defeated
57-114.

	The two presbyteries that have voted to delete G-6.0106b - Baltimore and
Eastern Oregon - also voted to delete it in 1997.

	One presbytery that voted to delete the provision in 1997 - Western
Kentucky - has "switched" its vote this year. The other 21 presbyteries
voted "no" on both occasions.

	 If the remaining 149 presbyteries vote as they did in 1997, the proposed
amendment would fail by about 56-116.

	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 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."

	The unofficial tally, as of Nov. 21:

YES: Baltimore, Eastern Oregon.

NO: Boise, Central Washington, Charleston-Atlantic, Dakota, Foothills,
Inland Northwest, Mississippi, New Harmony, Noroeste, Northumberland,
Olympia, Peace River, San Diego, San Gabriel, San Joaquin, San Juan,
Sheppards and Lapsley, Suroeste, Transylvania, Tropical Florida, Washington,
Western Kentucky.
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