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"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

  Presbyteries vote for 6th time on sex issues

The Layman

Scroll down
for vote chart

 96 (yes) – 74 (no)

Updated 6/3/11

The 2010-2011 voting by presbyteries will be the sixth national referendum in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1996-97 on Biblical sexual ethics. 

Known as Amendment 10-A, signifying its date (2010) and its place on the ballot (first), the amendment calls for a revision of G-6.0106b, the constitutional fidelity/chastity ordination requirement. Below is the wording for Amendment 10-A:

The 219th General Assembly (2010) directed the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendment to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:

Shall G-6.0106b be amended by striking the current text and inserting new text in its place as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added is shown as italic.]

 

 

 “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. Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G.14.0240; G-14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.  

 

 

 

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. 

‘Amendment 08-B’

In 2008-2009, presbyteries voted 78-95 against Amendment 08-B, which would have removed the “fidelity/chastity” standard from the Book of Order. The standard requires that ordained officers be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman, or chaste in singleness.

 

 

 

 

Vote on B

Vote on A

Vote on O

Vote on A

 

Current Vote on 10-A

Vote on B

Presbytery

 

96/97

97/98

00/01

01-02

08-09

Abingdon

No
(26-34) 

73 - 4

4-54

Yes

No

19-41

Alaska

No
9-20 (10/20/10) 

19 - 21

13 - 32

No

No (15 - 24)

12-21

Albany

Yes 
84-15
(11/16/10)

27 - 105

92- 44

19 - 80

Yes (74 - 28)

78-25

Arkansas

 Yes, 120-42

91 - 115

52 - 81

74 - 94

No (92 - 96)

116-64

Atlantic Korean

 No

 

 

Yes

No (0 - 32)

0-18

Baltimore

Yes, 108-36 

52 - 119

100 - 43

33 - 120

Yes (106-56)

106-38

Beaver-Butler

No
 27-73 
(1/22/11)

127 - 23

31 - 105

86 - 27

No

    21-92

Blackhawk

Yes, 66-46 
(2/8/11)

105 - 76

59 - 99

94 - 72

No (48 - 90)

57-73

Boise

Yes, 38-27 

22 - 29

21 - 27

12-27

No (20-20)

No

 

Boston

Yes 
53-30 (11/1/10) 

54 - 67

58 - 33

33 - 44

Yes (59 - 42)

54-42

Carlisle

No, 89-102 

82 - 67

57 - 84

66 - 71

No (58 - 81)

71-74

Cascades

Yes
(106-39) 

185 - 223

177 - 159

145 - 189

Yes (179 - 112)

150-48 

Cayuga-Syracuse

Yes
(voice vote) 
(1/22/11)

26 - 78

70 - 26

15 - 50

Yes (54 - 21)

 33-12

Central Florida

No
65-140 (12-7-10) 

131 - 38

53 - 157

114 - 44

No (74 - 225)

48-164 

Central Neb.

 Yes
36-16 (2/26/11)

44 - 33

32 - 42

12-36

No (24 - 39)

21-21

Central Wash.

 No, 12-54

71 - 29

19 - 87

63 - 23

No (16 - 70)

7-55

Charleston-Atl.

No
49-55 

64 - 23

20 - 65

66-20

No (22 - 93)

30-89 

Charlotte

Yes, 162-154 

208 - 123

98 - 212

167 - 124

No

133-124

Cherokee

No
49-62
(11/16/10)

62 - 21

No

81 - 32

No

 24-79

Chicago

Yes, 185-61 

167 - 325

257 - 163

89-169

Yes (247 - 170)

200-60

Cimarron

Yes, 19-9
(2/8/11) 

19 - 20

14 - 18

21 - 14

No (16 - 20)

19-16

Cincinnati

Yes, 99-72
(2/8/11) 

100 - 112

81 - 112

105 - 123

No (95 - 113)

 83-83

Coastal Carolina

No, 113-192

206 - 84

72 - 202

126-86

No (84 - 247)

110-205

Dakota

 

12-0

00 - 15

2-10

No (1 - 20)

0-16

de Cristo

No, 62-62 

67 - 62

58 - 74

48 - 63

Yes (70 - 55)

59-48

Denver

 Yes
102-28 (1/25/11)

41 - 97

87 - 35

No

Yes (115 - 69)

 114-40

Des Moines

Yes, 64-29 

50 - 71

60 - 39

38 - 63

Yes (69 - 46)

52-37

Detroit

Yes
113-66 (2/22/11) 

103 - 153

152 - 74

No

No (102 - 111)

 141-92

Donegal

Yes
83-80

114 - 89

78 - 127

92 - 83

No (77 - 118)

63-86

East Iowa

Yes, 76-36
(2/5/11)

90 - 122

88 - 85

37 - 87

Yes (78 - 69)

74-21

E. Tennessee

Yes
71-63 (2/26/11) 

125 - 65

58 - 122

99 - 89

No

81-66 

Eastern Korean

 No

26 - 00

00 - 34

Yes

No (0 - 48)

0-55

Eastern Oklahoma

Yes
55-53 (12-7-10) 

53 - 62

59 - 56

63 - 49

No (43 - 86)

 49-56

Eastern Oregon

Yes
18-9 

6-18

Yes

8-15

Yes (17 - 14)

22-6

E. Virginia

 Yes, 87-69
(1/22/11)

84 - 76

62 - 97

58 - 92

No (70 - 98)

 72-80

Eastminster

Yes, 46-45
(3/8/11) 

50 - 83

43 - 68

55 - 56

No (54 - 65)

60-39

Elizabeth

Yes, 63-46 
(1/22/11)

56 - 91

No

39 - 52

Yes (70 - 58)

91-53

Flint River

No, 26-54
(2/26/11) 

64 - 18

18 - 68

39 - 29

No (20 - 71)

27-47

Florida

 Yes, 49-36

58 - 50

39 - 48

38 - 45

No (42 - 66)

 41-46

Foothills

No, 64-95 

103 - 52

36 - 122

108 - 57

No (41 - 132)

 41-131

Genesee Valley

Yes
85-29
(1/22/11) 

34 - 122

95 - 35

No

Yes (89 - 61)

93-24

Geneva

 Yes
50-17
(3/5/11)

34 - 76

67 - 29

19 - 66

Yes (65 - 35)

44-29

Giddings Lovejoy

 Yes, 100-39

103 - 154

103 - 89

55 - 116

Yes (115 - 106)

125-53

Glacier

No 

22 - 13

24-Oct

20 -13

No (11 - 21)

 7-28

Grace

Yes
243-149
(3/5/11) 

238 - 217

179 - 213

204 - 206

No (109 - 154)

203-182 

Grand Canyon

 Yes
(84-53)

110 - 92

81 - 114

104 - 103

Yes (122 - 96)

98-93

Great Rivers

Yes
88-76 

102 - 105

77 - 122

112 - 79

No (99 - 108)

85-74

Greater Atlanta

Yes, 262-157 

274 - 226

219 - 271

225 - 256

No (235 - 283)

243-233 

Hanmi

 No

51 - 1

No (00 - 50)

Yes

No (0 - 70)

1-30

Heartland

Yes, 109-59

99-152

120 - 100

116-127

Yes (150 - 139)

127-90

Holston

No
27-45 (12-7-10) 

68 - 24

23 - 60

53 - 29

No (22 - 74)

24-68 

Homestead

YES
46-26 

65 - 52

33 - 66

29 - 50

No (46 - 62)

 37-40

Hudson River

Yes, 81-6 

32 - 160

154 - 24

15 - 101

Yes (103 - 28)

94-12

Huntingdon

No
32-33 
(1/29/11)

57 - 31

30 - 52

47-40

No (26 - 62)

26-36

Indian Nations

Yes, 45-41
(2/26/11) 

58 - 50

34 - 62

46 - 67

No (52 - 52)

38-43 

Inland Northwest

 No, 44-74

61 - 48

32 - 70

73 - 36

No (22 - 112)

44-76

James

No
152-152-3 (10/16/10)

160 - 137

74 - 203

133 - 173

No (130 - 190)

125-192

John Calvin

 No
30-41 (12/4/10)

81 - 27

34 - 62

53 - 49

No (16 - 76)

 33-55

John Knox

Yes, 60-19 

55 - 83

86 - 54

57 - 67

Yes (66 - 62)

39-13

Kendall

 No
5-17 (12/5/10)

17-10

5-23

16 -12

No (8 - 22)

6-18 

Kiskiminetas

 

64 - 76

59 - 89

89 - 59

No (35 - 76)

 34-76

Lackawanna

No
31-46 (11/20/10) 

45 - 53

45 - 29

32 - 47

No (26 - 49)

 30-40

Lake Erie

No, 36-44 

56 - 49

46 - 74

66 - 42

No (37 - 65)

32-58

Lake Huron

No
33-39 (12-7-10) 

47 - 64

46 - 48

21 - 59

No (42 - 64)

 43-32

Lake Michigan

Yes 
95-37 (11/13/10)

70 - 116

83 - 63

55 - 92

Yes (82 - 59)

94-42

Lehigh

Yes, 68-48 

No action

39 - 57

51 - 54

No (50 - 62)

60-46

Long Island

Yes
(voice vote) 
1/29/11

33 - 111

82 - 32

No

Yes ( 87 - 28 )

78-29

Los Ranchos

 NO
51-131

131 - 66

40 - 138

140 - 67

No (53 - 159)

35-143

Mackinac

Yes, 44-30
(2/26/11)
 

36 - 36

35 - 25

24 - 53

No

 44-32

Maumee Valley

Yes, 67-39
(2/15/11) 

60 - 80

68 - 58

34 - 84

No (51 - 70)

65-58

Miami Valley

Yes, 58-36 

61 - 109

79 - 57

56 - 91

Yes (86 - 53)

72-48

Middle Tenn.

 Yes, 93-86

74 - 120

67 - 111

91 - 112

No (95 - 118)

95-139

Mid-Kentucky

Yes
99-9
(1/22/11)

55 - 119

108 - 50

22 - 125

Yes (113 - 63)

90-19

Mid-South

No, 48-49 

89 - 58

48 - 89

62 - 70

No (59 - 99)

31-67

(formerly Memphis)

MW Hanmi

 

35 - 00

No (00 - 50)

51 - 0

No (0 - 44)

No

 

(Did not vote

 No (not voting)

so counted as no)

Milwaukee

Yes
73-22 

27 - 82

yes

23 - 80

Yes (68 - 35)

86-24

Minnesota Valleys

No
51-55 

53 - 61

61 - 54

49-51

No (44 - 60)

 44-37-1

Mission

 Yes
201-194
(3/4/11)

163 - 203

153 - 181

179 - 209

No (164 - 235)

181-181 

Mississippi

No (10/29/2010)
11-47    

53-15

10-57

52 - 15

No (9 - 55)

2-49

Missouri River Valley

Yes, 52-39 

78 - 59

62 - 76

53 - 59

No (65 - 68)

 50-41 

Missouri Union

YES
43-38 

60 - 58

40 - 69

49 - 42

No (34 - 46)

31-48 

Monmouth

Yes, 74-32

51 - 81

56 - 60

45 - 76

Yes (68 - 47)

72-41 

Muskingum Valley

 No
(44-58)

99 - 70

67 - 95

70 - 65

No (51 - 117)

44-70  

National Capital

Yes, 204-80 

105 - 226

212 - 71

89 - 223

Yes (220 - 116)

222-102-1 

Nevada

 No
13-63
(3/15/11)

37 - 25

22 - 47

41 - 18

No (20 - 41)

13-59

New Brunswick

 Yes, 88-10
(3/8/11)

no

112 - 60

54 - 128

Yes (113 - 50)

 95-44

New Castle

Yes
79-34-2
 (1-18-11)

43 - 89

74 - 33

30 - 90

Yes (65 - 55)

82-48

New Covenant

No
144-156-3 (11/13/10) 

149 - 173

140 -165

143 - 141

No (120 - 214)

119-171

New Harmony

no, 28-72 

101 - 35

No

Yes

No

20-99  

New Hope

 Yes, 158-118

140 - 172

124 - 128

122 - 174

No (153 - 159)

177-139  

New York City

 Yes, 89-31

53 - 154

76 - 11

22 - 93

Yes (61 - 31)

76-25 

Newark

 Yes
34-21

26 - 61

48 - 25

36 - 57

No (34 - 40)

 42-8 

Newton

YES
75-19
(1/11/11)

22 - 107

92 - 22

19 - 95

Yes (82 - 34)

63-16

Noroeste

No

Yes

No (00 - 61)

Yes

No

 No

 

North Alabama

Yes, 36-28 

60 - 18

26 - 45

37 - 34

No

30-48 

North Central Iowa

No, 43-50
(3/1/11) 

57 - 51

51 - 46

37 - 56

No (46 - 65)

31-60

N. Puget Sd.

 No
53-89

57 - 46

44 - 60

64 - 54

No (39 - 73)

42-69 

Northeast Georgia

No, 75-87
(2/26/11) 

78 - 39

33 - 68

65 - 61

No (44 - 101)

49-89 

Northern Kan.

Yes, 69-20 

21 - 97

79 - 46

39 - 78

Yes (73 - 49)

71-23

Northern New England

 Yes
63-15
(3/5/11)

66 - 66

70 - 52

27 - 68

Yes (75 - 40)

56-30

Northern New York

Yes (hand vote)
(11/20/10)

13 - 47

44 - 10

No

Yes (42 - 19)

Yes

 

 

North. Plains

No
32-34
 

 

46 - 18

45 - 39

33 - 36

No (35 - 51)

21-33

Northern Waters

 Yes, 39-14

23 - 44

29 - 35

25 - 57

Yes (41 - 30)

 52-11

Northumberland

No
17-50
 

 

46 - 26

22 - 47

37 - 36

No (28 - 51)

20-58 

Ohio Valley

Yes
73-32

40 - 69

74 - 71

37-55

No (74 - 90)

57-44 

Olympia

No, 39-78 

92 - 41

32 - 75

81 - 29

No (32 - 110)

 44-98

Pacific

yes, 102-60 

97 - 95

75 - 103

87 - 100

No (99 - 100)

100-90

Palisades

Yes
32-14 (11/16/10) 
 

31 - 67

71 - 21

25 - 67

Yes (59 - 33)

35-20

Palo Duro

No, 35-50 

70 - 54

42 - 73

46 -56

No (36 - 64)

29-47 

Peace River

NO
65-79 

85 - 57

48 - 84

79 - 51

No (37 - 105)

63-82

Peaks

No, 89-117 

139 - 86

68 - 163

134 - 88

No (77 - 166)

74-136 )

Philadelphia

Yes, 180-103 

255 - 197

155 - 246

218 - 221

No (176 - 221)

 152-139

Pines

No, 36-44 

68 - 51

22 - 58

29 - 41

No (31 - 45)

 34-36

Pittsburgh

No
80-163-4 (11/18/10) 
 

 

277 - 160

120 - 267

224 - 119

No (130 - 280)

 105-206

Plains & Peaks

Yes, 73-51 

68 - 87

65 - 73

69 - 63

No (60 - 91)

41-60 

Prospect Hill

no, 22-44 

62 - 49

30 - 67

52 - 26

No (24 - 62)

12-63 

Providence

 

60 - 30

47 - 56

20 - 80

No (38 - 63)

 39-48

Pueblo

 No, 22-49

48 - 36

36 - 53

43 - 38

No (25 - 77)

27-54 

Redstone

No
38-68 (11/17/10) 

94-52

27 - 70

69 - 67

No (33 - 85)

46-75 

Redwoods

Yes, standing vote
(2/8/11) 

39 - 147

86 - 49

30 - 90

Yes (102 - 49)

102-28

Riverside

Yes
58-45
(1/29/11) 

86 - 55

34 - 94

Yes

No (18 - 94)

42-53

Sacramento

Yes, 80-76
(2/26/11) 

101 - 73

66 - 62

72 - 85

No (69 - 106)

65-75 

Salem

Yes
186-107

153 - 143

141 - 156

158 - 167

No (160 - 187)

156-149

San Diego

No
22-66  (11/16/10)

89 - 44

37 - 81

93 - 27

No (37 - 102)

17-74

San Fernando

 No

79 - 63

29 - 76

60 - 47

No (35 - 92)

22-74

San Francisco

Yes, 198-143 

179 - 214

207 - 167

158-272

Yes (216 - 186)

167-177

San Gabriel

 no 92-92

184 - 100

89 - 162

163 - 113

No (97 - 181)

79-136

San Joaquin

No, 14-32
(2/5/11) 

96 - 13

5-95

yes

No (3 - 79)

 8-74

San Jose

Yes
78-57
(1/22/11) 

62 - 85

70 - 59

59 - 67

Yes (86 - 75)

 84-81

San Juan

No 

66 - 00

No (00-47)

Yes

No

No

 

Santa Barbara

No
25-69  

84 - 52

40 - 94

81 - 40

No (39 - 101)

 20-85

Santa Fe

Yes, 101-17
(2/26/11)  

48 - 111

101 - 43

21 - 108

Yes (108 - 42)

110-23  

Savannah

Yes, 40-33 

54 - 9

14 - 45

Yes

No (20 - 54)

 No

Scioto Valley

Yes, 118-65 

101 - 128

112 - 91

81 - 104

No (103 - 105)

115-88

Seattle

No
103-126
(3/15/11)

159 - 118

102 - 133

138 -103

No (109 - 188)

 91-155

Shenandoah

No
93-106 (11/10/11)  

124 - 87

89 - 120

No

No (77 - 146)

82-112

Shenango

NO 

86 - 15

No

Yes

No

4-106

Shep. & Lap.

YES
80-52 

89 - 59

52 - 98

49 - 61

No (59 - 109)

77-75

Sierra Blanca

No
19-28
(1/29/11)

21-34

24 - 21

15 - 19

Yes ( 18 - 17 )

23-30  

South Alabama

Yes, 34-33 

47 - 19

15 - 47

34 - 13

No (18 - 49)

24-33  

S. Dakota

No, 32-49
(2/25/11)  

42 - 33

No

43 - 27

No (22 - 66)

32-48  

South Louisiana

Yes
46-28

79 - 70

69 - 75

63 - 77

No (51 - 71)

42-55  

SE Illinois

Yes, 67-51 

83 - 81

77 - 74

71 - 67

No (69 - 77)

68-56

Southern Kansas

No, 33-66

84 - 70

47 - 82

71 - 58

No (42 - 94)

35-69

Southern New England

 Yes, 89-41

85 - 106

104 - 68

47 - 92

Yes (109 - 72)

97-50  

St. Andrew

 No, 24-40

68 - 32

No

54 - 36

No (11 - 86)

30-50 

St. Augustine

 Yes, 87-66
(2/5/11)

110 - 88

93 - 102

85 - 87

No (66 - 105)

68-75

Stockton

No
6-44 (11/6/10) 

42 - 30

15 - 42

35 - 20

No (14 - 44)

11-39

Suroeste

 No

yes

6-27

5-10

No

 0-41

Susquehanna Valley

 Yes, 50-22

37 - 60

57 - 34

15 - 55

Yes (43 - 27)

59-23  

Tampa Bay

No, 91-120
(2/26/11)  

188 - 82

84 - 161

140 - 100

No (63 - 142)

71-105

Transylvania

 Yes, 78-44
(3/8/11)

91 - 75

49 - 73

62 - 64

No (50 - 83)

83-61

Tres Rios

Yes, 35-32
(2/25/11)  

42 - 32

26 - 31

42 -48

No (17 - 54)

37-34

Trinity

No, 63-80 

110 - 35

35 - 105

No

No (42 - 114)

48-106

Tropical Fla.

No
29-66 (11/20/10) 

112 - 69

No

79 - 49

No (55 - 116)

21-93 

Twin Cities Area

 yes, 205-56

71 - 194

188 - 65

80 - 168

Yes (197 - 112)

138-54

Up. Ohio Val.

No, 19-43-2
(1/22/11) 

74 - 42

21 - 91

64 - 24

No (18 - 80)

12-72

Utah

Yes
30-25

 

17 - 27

29 - 21

No

No (21 - 32)

25-23

Utica

 Yes
(voice vote)
(1/25/11)

10-51

46 - 11

No

Yes (24 - 8)

 70-3

Wabash Val.

Yes, 66-42
(2/22/11)  

116 - 100

76 - 125

84 - 93

No (83 - 102)

78-60  

Washington

No
24-61 
(1-15-11)

81 - 40

35 - 65

51 - 45

No (27 - 82)

27-70

West Jersey

No, 67-67 

77 - 108

78 - 79

68 - 81

No (80 - 83)

88-80

West Virginia

Yes, 93-56 
(3/1/11)

86 - 98

73 - 89

77-87

No (92 - 114)

93-56

Western Colorado

 No, 13-29
(2/25/11) 

34 - 12

9-34

Yes

No (6 - 33)

 11-23

Western Ky.

no, 26-37 

20 - 29

38 - 29

23-23

No (16 - 52)

17-42 

Western N.Y.

 YES
77-44

60 - 88

91 - 71

38 - 75

No action

 66-48 

Western N.C.

Yes
145-99
 (1/29/11)

187 - 100

106 - 144

136 - 97

No (100 - 167)

144-108

Western Reserve

 Yes
91-31
(1/24/11)

51 - 153

120 - 50

52 - 110

Yes (131 - 73)

107-42

Whitewater Valley

Yes
124-89

 

83 - 84

90 - 105

83 - 94

No (95 - 151)

 108-106

Winnebago

 
Yes

25 - 54

53 - 20

11-54

Yes (50 - 20)

 55-20 

Wyoming

No, 25-38
(2/5/11) 

18 - 39

36 - 27

No

No

 18-38 

Yellowstone

Yes, 27-25 

30 - 20

18 - 25

31 - 21

No (29 - 37)

25-23

Yukon

 No, 21-28
(2/26/11) 

50 - 15

19 - 35

24 - 23

No (12 - 40)

 18-41 

Totals

96 (yes) – 74 (no)

97 - 74

57 (Yes) – 114 (No)

57 (Yes) – 114(No)

46 (Yes) – 127 (No)

78  (Yes) – 95 (No)

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