31st presbytery to
consider
'essential' ordination standards
The
Layman Online
Thursday, November
30, 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 |
Original resolution defeated
Nov. 14. Second resolution on agenda for January meeting. |
| 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. Synod PJC asked to compel presbytery to rescind
resolution. |
| 8 |
San Diego |
31 |
16,741 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 9 |
San Francisco |
77 |
28,132 |
Considers competing
proposals |
| 10 |
Scioto Valley |
113 |
23,940 |
Deferred to June 2007. |
| 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 |
Referred to committee. |
| 19 |
San Joaquin |
34 |
7,980 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards. Synod PJC asked to compel presbytery to rescind
resolution. |
| 20 |
Olympia |
50 |
10,800 |
Affirmed constitutional
standards |
| 21 |
Santa Barbara |
30 |
9,378 |
Not reported. |
| 22 |
Santa Fe |
43 |
7,118 |
Under review
|
| 23
|
Mid-South
|
65 |
11,023 |
Affirmed
constitutional standards. Synod PJC asked to compel presbytery
to rescind resolution. |
| 24 |
Cherokee |
41 |
11,036 |
Vote on Nov. 28. |
| 25 |
Great Rivers
|
110 |
19,818 |
Vote on Feb. 27. |
| 26 |
Grace |
180 |
45,040 |
Under review. |
| 27 |
Redstone |
85 |
16,288 |
Voted Nov. 21 to
rule the proposal unconstitutional. |
| 28 |
Tampa Bay
|
75 |
24,821 |
To be introduced
on floor of presbytery on Nov. 30 |
| 29
|
Western
Reserve |
52 |
14,202 |
Resolution
submitted to presbytery by seven sessions. |
| 30 |
Nevada |
24 |
5345 |
Voted 42-20 to
affirm standards. |
| 31 |
E. Oklahoma
|
72 |
13,106 |
Will consider
resolution on Dec. 4 |
|
The Presbytery of Eastern Oklahoma is scheduled to consider on
Dec. 4 a resolution affirming the constitutional requirement not to
ordain homosexuals or adulterers.
The sessions of First Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, First Presbyterian
in McAlester and Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville
submitted the overture calling for approval of the resolution.
According to reports received by The Layman Online, similar resolutions
have been submitted to 31 presbyteries. Twelve presbyteries have
approved their resolutions affirming G-6.0106b in the Book of Order
and one has declared that its resolution was unconstitutional. Final
decisions are pending in other presbyteries.
The Eastern Oklahoma resolution
is
included in the packet (pages 16 and 17) for the commissioners'
meeting.
The main points in the resolution are:
- The presbytery would treat as essential all Form of Government
standards for the ordination and installation of deacons, elders and
ministers, including the "fidelity/chastity" requirements
in G-6.0106b.
- If the presbytery grants an exception to G-6.0106b, that action
would "not release the candidate or minister from the
requirement" to comply with the standards.
- All candidates for ordination or installation "shall be
made aware of the presbytery's policy that each and every
requirement for ordination and installation in the Form of
Government is treated as an essential."
|