Assembly committee votes to leave ordination requirement in Book of Order By Paula R. Kincaid The Layman Online Saturday, June 17, 2006 217th General Assembly Birmingham, Ala. BIRMINGHAM -- The General Assembly Committee on Church Orders voted 30-28 Saturday to recommend leaving the "fidelity-chastity" ordination requirement in the Book of Order. The recommendation will go before the General Assembly plenary next week. The vote was by secret ballot. Moderator Karen Akin asked for a moment of silence before the vote, and made clear to all in the room that she expected silence when she announced the vote, both by the commissioners and visitors in the room. Following the vote, she prayed, "Your church is still struggling, God. We are still listening. We are grateful for your presence and your Spirit and we ask that your presence and your Spirit bring comfort to all who are hurting. We ask, O Lord, that as the resonant sounds of harmony still ring in this room, that you can help us live in harmony. In Christ's name we pray, Amen." Akin led the crowd in singing Amazing Grace while the votes were counted.

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