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Presbyteries vote for 5th time on sex issues


The Layman

The vote by presbyteries in 2008 and 2009 was the fifth national referendum in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1996-97 on Biblical sexual ethics.

Scroll down
for vote chart

78 (yes) – 95 (no)

updated 6/1/09


Known as Amendment 08-B, signifying its date (2008) and its place on the ballot (second), the now failed amendment called for a revision of G-6.0106b, the constitutional fidelity/chastity ordination requirement.

 

Commissioners to presbyteries were asked:  Shall the current text of G-6.0106b be stricken and new text be inserted to read as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]

“G-6.0106 b. 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 (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. 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.

Following are brief descriptions of presbytery votes since 1996-98:

‘Amendment B’
In 1996-97, 171 presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted 97-74 to place a constitutional provision in the Book of Order. Before its adoption, that proposal was known as “Amendment B.” It is now G-6.0106b, which requires candidates for minister, elder and deacon to practice fidelity in their marriages or chastity in their singleness. In other words, it prohibits the ordination of self-affirming, practicing adulterers and homosexuals.

‘Amendment A’
In 1997-98, the presbyteries voted nearly two-to-one against a proposed amendment that would have replaced G-6.0106b. That proposed change, known as “Amendment A,” would have eliminated the constitutional prohibition against the ordination of adulterers and homosexuals.

‘Amendment O’
In 2000-2001, 173 presbyteries voted on a proposal called “Amendment O,” which would have prohibited Presbyterian ministers from conducting so-called “same-sex” unions. The presbyteries voted 73-99, with one tie vote, not to prohibit local sessions from determining whether to allow their pastors to conduct same-sex unions within the local congregation’s buildings. Many believed that the issue was more about the rights and duties of sessions and ministers than it was about whether same-sex unions are morally acceptable.

‘Amendment A’
In 2001, presbyteries voted 46-127 against Amendment A which called for extracting the “fidelity/chastity” constitutional standard required for the ordination of church officers and ending the denomination’s historic Biblical theology that says homosexual activity is sinful. 


Current
vote on B

Vote on B

Vote on A

Vote on O

Vote on A

Presbytery

08/09

96/97

97/98

00/01

01/02

Abingdon

19-41 (3/19/09)

73 - 4

4 - 54

Yes

No

Alaska

12-21 (4/17/09)

19 - 21

13 - 32

No

No (15 - 24)

Albany

78-25 (11/24/09)

27 - 105

92- 44

19 - 80

Yes (74 - 28)

Arkansas

116-64 (2/20/2009)

91 - 115

52 - 81

74 - 94

No (92 - 96)

Atlantic Korean

0-18 (4/16/09)


 

Yes

No (0 - 32)

Baltimore

106-38 (1/22/09)

52 - 119

100 - 43

33 - 120

Yes (106-56)

Beaver-Butler

    21-92 (3/24/09)

127 - 23

31 - 105

86 - 27

No

Blackhawk

57-73 (2/10/09)

105 - 76

59 - 99

94 - 72

No (48 - 90)

Boise

No – vote totals not reported (4/25/2009)

22 - 29

21 - 27

12 - 27

No (20-20)

Boston

54-42 (3/23/09)

54 - 67

58 - 33

33 - 44

Yes (59 - 42)

Carlisle

71-74 (1/27/09)

82 - 67

57 - 84

66 - 71

No (58 - 81)

Cascades

150-48 (3/14/09) 

185 - 223

177 - 159

145 - 189

Yes (179 - 112)

Cayuga-Syracuse

 33-12 (1/31/09)

26 - 78

70 - 26

15 - 50

Yes (54 - 21)

Central Florida

48-164 (12/2/08) 

131 - 38

53 - 157

114 - 44

No (74 - 225)

Central Neb.

21-21 (3/7/09) 

44 - 33

32 - 42

12 - 36

No (24 - 39)

Central Wash.

7-55 (10/18/08)

71 - 29

19 - 87

63 - 23

No (16 - 70)

Charleston-Atl.

30-89 (3/25/09) 

64 - 23

20 - 65

66-20

No (22 - 93)

Charlotte

133-124 (2/14/09) 

208 - 123

98 - 212

167 - 124

No

Cherokee

 24-79 (2/24/09)

62 - 21

No

81 - 32

No

Chicago

200-60 (2/10/09) 

167 - 325

257 - 163

89-169

Yes (247 - 170)

Cimarron

19-16 (2/10/09) 

19 - 20

14 - 18

21 - 14

No (16 - 20)

Cincinnati

 83-83 (2/10/09)

100 - 112

81 - 112

105 - 123

No (95 - 113)

Coastal Carolina

110-205 (3/7/09) 

206 - 84

72 - 202

126-86

No (84 - 247)

Dakota

0-16 (5/2/09) 

12 - 00

00 - 15

2 - 10

No (1 - 20)

de Cristo

59-48 (4/25/2009) 

67 - 62

58 - 74

48 - 63

Yes (70 - 55)

Denver

 114-40 (3/24/09)

41 - 97

87 - 35

No

Yes (115 - 69)

Des Moines

52-37 (1/17/09) 

50 - 71

60 - 39

38 - 63

Yes (69 - 46)

Detroit

 141-92 (4/28/09)

103 - 153

152 - 74

No

No (102 - 111)

Donegal

63-86 ( 1/27/09)

114 - 89

78 - 127

92 - 83

No (77 - 118)

East Iowa

74-21 (5/13/09) 

90 - 122

88 - 85

37 - 87

Yes (78 - 69)

E. Tennessee

81-66 (2/7/09) 

125 - 65

58 - 122

99 - 89

No

Eastern Korean

0-55 (3/3/09) 

26 - 00

00 - 34

Yes

No (0 - 48)

Eastern Oklahoma

 49-56 (12/2/08)

53 - 62

59 - 56

63 - 49

No (43 - 86)

Eastern Oregon

22-6 (2/21/09) 

6 - 18

Yes

8 -15

Yes (17 - 14)

E. Virginia

 72-80 (1/24/09)

84 - 76

62 - 97

58 - 92

No (70 - 98)

Eastminster

60-39 (3/10/09) 

50 - 83

43 - 68

55 - 56

No (54 - 65)

Elizabeth

91-53 (3/24/09) 

56 - 91

No

39 - 52

Yes (70 - 58)

Flint River

27-47 (2/7/09) 

64 - 18

18 - 68

39 - 29

No (20 - 71)

Florida

 41-46 (11/11/08)

58 - 50

39 - 48

38 - 45

No (42 - 66)

Foothills

 41-131 (1/11/09)

103 - 52

36 - 122

108 - 57

No (41 - 132)

Genesee Valley

93-24 (3/28/09) 

34 - 122

95 - 35

No

Yes (89 - 61)

Geneva

44-29 (3/23/09) 

34 - 76

67 - 29

19 - 66

Yes (65 - 35)

Giddings Lovejoy

125-53 (2/21/09) 

103 - 154

103 - 89

55 - 116

Yes (115 - 106)

Glacier

 7-28 (2/13/09)

22 - 13

10 - 24

20 -13

No (11 - 21)

Grace

203-182 (3/28/09) 

238 - 217

179 - 213

204 - 206

No (109 - 154)

Grand Canyon

98-93 (3/21/09) 

110 - 92

81 - 114

104 - 103

Yes (122 - 96)

Great Rivers

85-74 (2/17/09)

102 - 105

77 - 122

112 - 79

No (99 - 108)

Greater Atlanta

243-233 (2/21/09) 

274 - 226

219 - 271

225 - 256

No (235 - 283)

Hanmi

1-30 (3/13/09)

51 - 1

No (00 - 50)

Yes

No (0 - 70)

Heartland

127-90 (3/7/09) 

99-152

120 - 100

116-127

Yes (150 - 139)

Holston

24-68 (3/7/09) 

68 - 24

23 - 60

53 - 29

No (22 - 74)

Homestead

 37-40 (2/21/09)

65 - 52

33 - 66

29 - 50

No (46 - 62)

Hudson River

94-12 (2/24/09) 

32 - 160

154 - 24

15 - 101

Yes (103 - 28)

Huntingdon

26-36 (1/31/09) 

57 - 31

30 - 52

47-40

No (26 - 62)

Indian Nations

38-43 (2/27/09) 

58 - 50

34 - 62

46 - 67

No (52 - 52)

Inland Northwest

44-76 (2/14/09) 

61 - 48

32 - 70

73 - 36

No (22 - 112)

James

125-192 (2/21/2009) 

160 - 137

74 - 203

133 - 173

No (130 - 190)

John Calvin

 33-55 (3/7/09)

81 - 27

34 - 62

53 - 49

No (16 - 76)

John Knox

39-13 (2/21/09) 

55 - 83

86 - 54

57 - 67

Yes (66 - 62)

Kendall

6-18 (2/28/09) 

17-10

5 - 23

16 -12

No (8 - 22)

Kiskiminetas

 34-76 (5/13/09)

64 - 76

59 - 89

89 - 59

No (35 - 76)

Lackawanna

 30-40 (1/24/09)

45 - 53

45 - 29

32 - 47

No (26 - 49)

Lake Erie

32-58 (2/21/09) 

56 - 49

46 - 74

66 - 42

No (37 - 65)

Lake Huron

 43-32 (2/3/09)

47 - 64

46 - 48

21 - 59

No (42 - 64)

Lake Michigan

94-42 (3/10/09) 

70 - 116

83 - 63

55 - 92

Yes (82 - 59)

Lehigh

60-46 (4/28/09) 

No action

39 - 57

51 - 54

No (50 - 62)

Long Island

78-29 (3/31/09) 

33 - 111

82 - 32

No

Yes ( 87 - 28 )

Los Ranchos

35-143 (11-20-08) 

131 - 66

40 - 138

140 - 67

No (53 - 159)

Mackinac

 44-32 (3/21/09)

36 - 36

35 - 25

24 - 53

No

Maumee Valley

65-58 (2/17/09) 

60 - 80

68 - 58

34 - 84

No (51 - 70)

Miami Valley

72-48 (2/14/09) 

61 - 109

79 - 57

56 - 91

Yes (86 - 53)

Middle Tenn.

95-139 (5/7/09) 

74 - 120

67 - 111

91 - 112

No (95 - 118)

Mid-Kentucky

90-19  (2/21/09)

55 - 119

108 - 50

22 - 125

Yes (113 - 63)

Mid-South
(formerly Memphis)

31-67 (2/14/09)

89 - 58

48 - 89

62 - 70

No (59 - 99)

MW Hanmi

No
(Did not vote,
so counted as no)

35 - 00

No (00 - 50)

51 - 0

No (0 - 44)

Milwaukee

86-24 (2/24/09) 

27 - 82

yes

23 - 80

Yes (68 - 35)

Minnesota Valleys

 44-37-1 (5/2/09)

53 - 61

61 - 54

49-51

No (44 - 60)

Mission

181-181 (3/7/09) 

163 - 203

153 - 181

179 - 209

No (164 - 235)

Mississippi

2-49 (10/23/08)

53-15

10 - 57

52 - 15

No (9 - 55)

Missouri River Valley

 50-41 (5/19/09)

78 - 59

62 - 76

53 - 59

No (65 - 68)

Missouri Union

31-48 (2/26/09) 

60 - 58

40 - 69

49 - 42

No (34 - 46)

Monmouth

72-41 (11/25/08) 

51 - 81

56 - 60

45 - 76

Yes (68 - 47)

Muskingum Valley

44-70 (3/14/09) 

99 - 70

67 - 95

70 - 65

No (51 - 117)

National Capital

222-102-1 

105 - 226

212 - 71

89 - 223

Yes (220 - 116)

Nevada

13-59 (3/10/09) 

37 - 25

22 - 47

41 - 18

No (20 - 41)

New Brunswick

 95-44 (3/10/09)

no

112 - 60

54 - 128

Yes (113 - 50)

New Castle

82-48 (1/24/09) 

43 - 89

74 - 33

30 - 90

Yes (65 - 55)

New Covenant

119-171 (2/7/09) 

149 - 173

140 -165

143 - 141

No (120 - 214)

New Harmony

20-99 (2/28/09) 

101 - 35

No

Yes

No

New Hope

177-139 (2/21/09) 

140 - 172

124 - 128

122 - 174

No (153 - 159)

New York City

76-25 (3/28/09) 

53 - 154

76 - 11

22 - 93

Yes (61 - 31)

Newark

 42-8 (3/21/09)

26 - 61

48 - 25

36 - 57

No (34 - 40)

Newton

63-16 (1/17/09) 

22 - 107

92 - 22

19 - 95

Yes (82 - 34)

Noroeste

 Unanimous 'No' by voice vote

Yes

No (00 - 61)

Yes

No

North Alabama

30-48 (2/21/09) 

60 - 18

26 - 45

37 - 34

No

North Central Iowa

31-60 (3/3/09) 

57 - 51

51 - 46

37 - 56

No (46 - 65)

N. Puget Sd.

42-69 (2/28/09) 

57 - 46

44 - 60

64 - 54

No (39 - 73)

Northeast Georgia

49-89 (2/28/09) 

78 - 39

33 - 68

65 - 61

No (44 - 101)

Northern Kan.

71-23 (1/17/09) 

21 - 97

79 - 46

39 - 78

Yes (73 - 49)

Northern New England

56-30 (3/14/09) 

66 - 66

70 - 52

27 - 68

Yes (75 - 40)

Northern New York

Yes, by voice vote
(3/31/09)

13 - 47

44 - 10

No

Yes (42 - 19)

North. Plains

21-33 (4/25/2009)

46 - 18

45 - 39

33 - 36

No (35 - 51)

Northern Waters

 52-11 (5/7/09)

23 - 44

29 - 35

25 - 57

Yes (41 - 30)

Northumberland

20-58 (3/21/09)

46 - 26

22 - 47

37 - 36

No (28 - 51)

Ohio Valley

57-44 (2/21/09) 

40 - 69

74 - 71

37-55

No (74 - 90)

Olympia

 44-98 (3/19/09)

92 - 41

32 - 75

81 - 29

No (32 - 110)

Pacific

100-90 (5/13/09) 

97 - 95

75 - 103

87 - 100

No (99 - 100)

Palisades

35-20 (1/27/09) 

31 - 67

71 - 21

25 - 67

Yes (59 - 33)

Palo Duro

29-47  (10/18/08)

70 - 54

42 - 73

46 -56

No (36 - 64)

Peace River

63-82 (2/26/09) 

85 - 57

48 - 84

79 - 51

No (37 - 105)

Peaks

74-136 (2/7/09)

139 - 86

68 - 163

134 - 88

No (77 - 166)

Philadelphia

 152-139 (3/28/09)

255 - 197

155 - 246

218 - 221

No (176 - 221)

Pines

 34-36

68 - 51

22 - 58

29 - 41

No (31 - 45)

Pittsburgh

 105-206 (3/14/09)

277 - 160

120 - 267

224 - 119

No (130 - 280)

Plains & Peaks

41-60 (2/7/09) 

68 - 87

65 - 73

69 - 63

No (60 - 91)

Prospect Hill

12-63 (2/7/09) 

62 - 49

30 - 67

52 - 26

No (24 - 62)

Providence

 39-48 (3/12/09)

60 - 30

47 - 56

20 - 80

No (38 - 63)

Pueblo

27-54 (2/10/09) 

48 - 36

36 - 53

43 - 38

No (25 - 77)

Redstone

46-75 (3/21/09) 

94-52

27 - 70

69 - 67

No (33 - 85)

Redwoods

102-28 (2/7/09) 

39 - 147

86 - 49

30 - 90

Yes (102 - 49)

Riverside

42-53 (3/10/09) 

86 - 55

34 - 94

Yes

No (18 - 94)

Sacramento

65-75 (2/21/09) 

101 - 73

66 - 62

72 - 85

No (69 - 106)

Salem

156-149 (4/21/09) 

153 - 143

141 - 156

158 - 167

No (160 - 187)

San Diego

17-74 (11/18/08)

89 - 44

37 - 81

93 - 27

No (37 - 102)

San Fernando

22-74 (1/27/09) 

79 - 63

29 - 76

60 - 47

No (35 - 92)

San Francisco

167-177 (4/20/09)

179 - 214

207 - 167

158-272

Yes (216 - 186)

San Gabriel

79-136 (3/10/09) 

184 - 100

89 - 162

163 - 113

No (97 - 181)

San Joaquin

 8-74 (11/22/08)

96 - 13

5 - 95

yes

No (3 - 79)

San Jose

 84-81 (4/4/09)

62 - 85

70 - 59

59 - 67

Yes (86 - 75)

San Juan

No – Voice vote 
(3/12/09)

66 - 00

No (00-47)

Yes

No

Santa Barbara

 20-85 (1/31/09)

84 - 52

40 - 94

81 - 40

No (39 - 101)

Santa Fe

110-23 (2/21/09) 

48 - 111

101 - 43

21 - 108

Yes (108 - 42)

Savannah

 No - voice vote (5/13/09)

54 - 9

14 - 45

yes

No (20 - 54)

Scioto Valley

115-88 (2/17/09) 

101 - 128

112 - 91

81 - 104

No (103 - 105)

Seattle

 91-155 (3/17/09)

159 - 118

102 - 133

138 -103

No (109 - 188)

Shenandoah

82-112 (2/14/09) 

124 - 87

89 - 120

No

No (77 - 146)

Shenango

4-106 (2/24/09) 

86 - 15

No

Yes

No

Shep. & Lap.

77-75 (2/19/09)

89 - 59

52 - 98

49 - 61

No (59 - 109)

Sierra Blanca

23-30 (4/25/2009) 

21-34

24 - 21

15 - 19

Yes ( 18 - 17 )

South Alabama

24-33 (2/28/09) 

47 - 19

15 - 47

34 - 13

No (18 - 49)

S. Dakota

32-48 (3/6/09) 

42 - 33

No

43 - 27

No (22 - 66)

South Louisiana

42-55 (4/4/09) 

79 - 70

69 - 75

63 - 77

No (51 - 71)

SE Illinois

68-56 (2/14/09) 

83 - 81

77 - 74

71 - 67

No (69 - 77)

Southern Kansas

35-69 (1/31/09) 

84 - 70

47 - 82

71 - 58

No (42 - 94)

Southern New England

97-50 (5/2/09) 

85 - 106

104 - 68

47 - 92

Yes (109 - 72)

St. Andrew

30-50 (2/3/09)

68 - 32

No

54 - 36

No (11 - 86)

St. Augustine

68-75 (2/14/09) 

110 - 88

93 - 102

85 - 87

No (66 - 105)

Stockton

11-39 (11/1/08)

42 - 30

15 - 42

35 - 20

No (14 - 44)

Suroeste

 0-41 (5/30/09)

yes

6 - 27

5 - 10

No

Susquehanna Valley

59-23 (3/28/09) 

37 - 60

57 - 34

15 - 55

Yes (43 - 27)

Tampa Bay

71-105 (2/28/09) 

188 - 82

84 - 161

140 - 100

No (63 - 142)

Transylvania

83-61 (3/10/09) 

91 - 75

49 - 73

62 - 64

No (50 - 83)

Tres Rios

37-34 (2/20/09) 

42 - 32

26 - 31

42 -48

No (17 - 54)

Trinity

48-106 (3/7/09) 

110 - 35

35 - 105

No

No (42 - 114)

Tropical Fla.

21-93 (2/21/09) 

112 - 69

No

79 - 49

No (55 - 116)

Twin Cities Area

138-54 (3/14/09) 

71 - 194

188 - 65

80 - 168

Yes (197 - 112)

Up. Ohio Val.

12-72 (11/18/08)

74 - 42

21 - 91

64 - 24

No (18 - 80)

Utah

25-23 (5/9/09) 

17 - 27

29 - 21

No

No (21 - 32)

Utica

 70-3 (1/27/09)

10 - 51

46 - 11

No

Yes (24 - 8)

Wabash Val.

78-60  

116 - 100

76 - 125

84 - 93

No (83 - 102)

Washington

27-70 (1/17/09) 

81 - 40

35 - 65

51 - 45

No (27 - 82)

West Jersey

88-80 (3/17/09) 

77 - 108

78 - 79

68 - 81

No (80 - 83)

West Virginia

93-56 (3/21/09) 

86 - 98

73 - 89

77-87

No (92 - 114)

Western Colorado

 11-23 (2/18/09)

34 - 12

9 - 34

Yes

No (6 - 33)

Western Ky.

17-42 (11/11/08)

20 - 29

38 - 29

23-23

No (16 - 52)

Western N.Y.

 66-48 (3/28/09)

60 - 88

91 - 71

38 - 75

No action

Western N.C.

144-108 (1/31/09) 

187 - 100

106 - 144

136 - 97

No (100 - 167)

Western Reserve

107-42 (3/23/09) 

51 - 153

120 - 50

52 - 110

Yes (131 - 73)

Whitewater Valley

 108-106 (3/7/09)

83 - 84

90 - 105

83 - 94

No (95 - 151)

Winnebago

 55-20 (2/7/09)

25 - 54

53 - 20

11 - 54

Yes (50 - 20)

Wyoming

 18-38 (2/7/09)

18 - 39

36 - 27

No

No

Yellowstone

25-23 (3/3/09) 

30 - 20

18 - 25

31 - 21

No (29 - 37)

Yukon

 18-41 (2/28/09)

50 - 15

19 - 35

24 - 23

No (12 - 40)

Totals

78  (Yes) – 95 (No)

97 - 74

57 - 114

73 - 99

46 (Yes) - 127 (No)

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