Keeping G-6.0106b By Daryl Fisher-Ogden Las Vegas, NV November 2000 G-6.0106b has become known by two of its key words, fidelity and chastity. G-6.0106b requires church officers to practice the sexual standards of fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness. In an era when many of our presbyteries are dealing with clergy misconduct, this section highlights the Scriptural view of sexual practice. The fidelity-chastity language had been before other General Assemblies, but never passed in this form. At the 1993 Assembly it was introduced during the discussion of a three-year study. It surfaced again at the 1994 Assembly and was heavily amended prior to being sent to the presbyteries where it was not passed. G-6.0106b came at the conclusion of a denominationwide study period. Many presbyteries held special events to consider issues of human sexuality. Numerous presbyteries sent this language as an overture to the 1996 Assembly. The commissioners’ committee had 47 overtures to consider and synthesize. G-6.0106b was the result of long hours of listening to individual experiences, theological rationale and scientific factors. It was drafted and then approved by the Assembly following times of prayerful searching and listening to other commissioners’ views. The time was right for the PCUSA to take a firm stand on sexual ethics. We had studied, prayed and debated; we needed to declare to a confused society where we feel God is calling us to stand. The fidelity-chastity language approaches sexuality in the right way. It calls for self-examination, not inordinate prying into another’s life. It clarifies the standards and contexualizes them. Marriage is upheld as the Scriptural place for expressions of sexuality. The covenant relationship between a man and a woman is affirmed. Yet, sexuality is not isolated as the only standard for church officers. The section recognizes there are a variety of sins possible in our human condition. Sex is not singled out, rather it is placed alongside other practices which the PCUSA has called sinful. These practices would be too numerous to list in a single amendment. We humans have the capacity to find infinite variations on how to violate the Ten Commandments. G-6.0106b points church officers to our theological considerations of sinful practices and urges each one to engage in self-examination. It takes seriously the call of Jesus Christ to turn aside from whatever sins we have and follow his example of the holy life. The call of G-6.0106b comes with a spirit of humility. Following the Scriptural mandate to first remove the log from our own eyes, this section looks to heterosexual misconduct and seeks correction. It points to Scriptural standards for those who seek leadership in congregations. It gently urges each church officer to consider both Scripture and our confessions in examining one’s own lifestyle. It broadens one’s understanding of sin beyond cultural categories to Biblical ones. Maintenance of G-6.0106b will afford the PCUSA extended affirmation of Scriptural standards for our church officers. It will to continue to place us in solidarity with the large majority of world Christians who also seek to live the holy life Jesus Christ calls us to live. The on-going stability of G-6.0106b will permit the PCUSA to focus its efforts on ministries of compassion and reconciliation in a world that desperately needs healing.

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