GA08131

Assembly proposes amendment to delete G-6.0106b and replace it with a new version

Paragraph covers “fidelity and chastity” ordination standards

by Jerry L. Van Marter

Commissioners and advisory delegates lined up behind Katherine Boswell, a youth advisory delegate from Western New York Presbytery, to speak during discussion of the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry report on Thursday morning. Photo by Danny Bolin

SAN JOSE, June 27, 2008 — The 218th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted today (June 27) 380-325 to send a proposed amendment to the denomination’s 173 presbyteries that would delete the current paragraph G-6.0106b in the Book of Order — which requires church officers to live in “fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness” — and replace it with a new G-6.0106b.

The proposed new G-6.0106b ties ordination decisions more closely to assent to the ordination vows currently in the church’s Book of Order without singling out a sexual conduct standard.

In the same action, the Assembly issued a new authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order declaring that interpretive statements related to sexual standards for ordination that predate the adoption of G-6.0106b in 1996 “have no further force or effect.”

The Advisory Committee on the Constitution has repeatedly said that clearing the way for ordination of sexually active gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Presbyterians requires the deletion of G-6.0106b and the removal of the authoritative interpretations that undergirded Assembly policy statements of 1978 and 1979 prohibiting the ordination of practicing homosexuals.

The proposed new G-6.0106b reads:

“Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.”

The debate now moves to the denomination’s presbyteries, which in 1997 and 2000 rejected proposals to delete G-6.0106b. At a press conference following the vote, the Rev. Dan Holloway of Providence Presbytery, who moderated the Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministries that brought the recommendation to the Assembly, said, “It is important to say that at this point our Constitution has not been changed. As we move forward it is essential that we have conversations that are gracious and loving and welcoming, since we are not all of one mind.”

The Assembly’s debate on the issue was briefer than in previous years.

Minister commissioner the Rev. William Stepp of Tropical Florida Presbytery opposed the deletion, saying the PC(USA) “needs a continuing strong witness to biblical standards for sexuality” and warned that the proposal will “destabilize the denomination, obliterate trust and reduce funding for the church. Don’t send a shock wave through the church.”

Others, noting that a study guide on ordination standards and issues mandated by the 2006 General Assembly as part of its approval of the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church was delayed until earlier this year, urged more time for sessions and presbyteries to study the issue before moving to a vote.

“Though we may be hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit here, many of our churches have not heard that same Spirit and are not ready,” said the Rev. Walter Hamer of John Calvin Presbytery, who presented a minority report that was defeated 319-375. “Let us continue the conversation with the whole church at the table to build trust, learn about various positions and give us a chance to understand each other. We need more time for study and conversation.”

But the Rev. Susan Fisher of Pacific Presbytery said the PC(USA) had discussed the ordination standards issue for 30 years and a proposal for “dialogue but not action doesn’t move us forward.” Fisher said she felt “compelled” to send the deletion proposal to the presbyteries “to give the church voice and vote to change language, to let the wider church decide if now is the time” to change ordination standards.

At a press conference after the vote, outgoing General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick pleaded for unity during what promises to be heated debate in the church. “There are people who are gay and lesbian who long passionately to be included,” he said. “There are others who believe strongly, not that they don’t love them, but that standards must be upheld. What is essential is the spirit of unity as we go forward to a new stage in the process.”

In another ordination standards-related action, the Assembly adopted a supplementary authoritative interpretation of the PC(USA) constitution that applies the historical practice of “scrupling” — the declaration of conscientious objection by candidates for ordination, coupled with discernment by the ordaining body whether the declared objection is disqualifying — equally to all ordination standards of the denomination.

The authoritative interpretation reaffirms the scrupling practice affirmed by the 217th General Assembly (2006) when it approved the report of the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity and Purity of the Church and effectively overturns a recent General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) ruling — Bush vs. Presbytery of Pittsburgh — that G-6.0106b, the commonly called “fidelity and chastity” ordination standard, cannot be scrupled.

The GAPJC ruling also stated that scrupling on any provision of the church’s Constitution does not give the conscientious objector license to disobey it.

Erin Cox-Holmes contributed to this report.