24th presbytery
considering
resolutions on ordinations
The Layman
Online
Wednesday, October
25, 2006
Presbyteries
responding to calls
for Constitutional enforcement
|
|
Presbytery |
Congs. |
Members |
Actions |
| 1 |
Central Florida |
74 |
29,905 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 2 |
Donegal |
62 |
22,822 |
Resolution under review
|
| 3 |
Eastminster |
54 |
11,578 |
Seven resolutions under
review |
| 4 |
Holston |
66 |
8,367 |
Referred to Bills and
Overtures |
| 5 |
Mississippi |
46 |
6,205 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 6 |
Pittsburgh |
153 |
43,855 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 7 |
Sacramento |
42 |
15,941 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 8 |
San Diego |
31 |
16,741 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 9 |
San Francisco |
77 |
28,132 |
Considers competing
proposals |
| 10 |
Scioto Valley |
113 |
23,940 |
Review scheduled |
| 11 |
Sierra Blanca |
22 |
2,162 |
Under review |
| 12 |
Utah |
24 |
4,009 |
Review at Oct. 13-14 meeting
|
| 13 |
Western N.C. |
115 |
19,937 |
Affirmed standards but
approved exemption on case-by-case basis |
| 14 |
Whitewater Valley |
68 |
23,289 |
Second reading Dec. 6 |
| 15 |
South Louisiana |
67 |
10,322 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 16 |
New Covenant
|
109 |
39,416 |
Affirmed
constitutional standards |
| 17 |
Beaver-Butler |
87 |
15,329 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 18 |
James |
113 |
28,259 |
Vote on Oct. 10 |
| 19 |
San Joaquin |
34 |
7,980 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 20 |
Olympia |
50 |
10,800 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 21 |
Santa Barbara |
30 |
9,378 |
Under review
|
| 22 |
Santa Fe |
43 |
7,118 |
Under review
|
| 23
|
Mid-South
|
65 |
11,023 |
Affirmed
constitutional standards |
| 24 |
Cherokee |
41 |
11,036 |
Under review |
|
The Presbytery of Cherokee in Georgia has joined the list of
presbyteries that are considering – or have adopted –
resolutions that affirm the ordination requirements in the Presbyterian
Church (USA).
The proposed Cherokee resolution states:
- In its discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity and for
the sake of the peace, unity, and purity of the church, Cherokee
Presbytery adopts the principle that compliance with the standards
for ordination adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order
is an essential of Reformed polity. Therefore, any departure from
the standards for ordination expressed in the Book of Order
will bar a candidate from ordination or installation by this
governing body. Provisions of the Book of Order are
signified as being standards by use of the term "shall," "is,"
"are to be," "requirement," or equivalent
expression.
The rationale for the overture says:
- The 217th General Assembly adopted an authoritative
interpretation (AI) that appears to permit a presbytery to ordain or
install a candidate whose personal conduct does not meet the precise
requirements of the Book of Order, if the presbytery
determines that the departure from the requirements does not
constitute a failure to adhere to the essentials of Reformed polity.
In effect, it means that the presbyteries may decide which
requirements are essential. Adoption of this policy will make it
clear that the presbytery considers all ordination requirements that
are mandates of the Book of Order to be essentials of
Reformed polity.
The Cherokee resolution is the 24th reported to The Layman Online
in response to the 2006 General Assembly's approval of an authoritative
interpretation that gives ordaining bodies the option to decide that the
ordination requirement is not an essential. Twelve presbyteries have
voted to abide by the "fidelity/chastity" requirement in the
Book of Order. None has voted against that requirement. Eleven
presbyteries are reviewing their proposals before taking a vote. |