37th presbytery is
asked
to affirm 'fidelity/chastity'
ordination requirement
The
Layman Online
Wednesday, December
13, 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 |
Affirmed
standards. |
| 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 |
Approved
by voice vote on Nov. 28 |
| 25 |
Great
Rivers |
110 |
19,818 |
Vote
on Feb. 27. |
| 26 |
Grace
|
180 |
45,040 |
Voted
against affirming standards, 75-35 |
| 27 |
Redstone
|
85 |
16,288 |
Voted
Nov. 21 to rule the proposal unconstitutional. |
| 28 |
Tampa
Bay |
75 |
24,821 |
Proposal
referred to committee for discernment. |
| 29
|
Western
Reserve |
52
|
14,202
|
Resolution
submitted to presbytery by seven sessions. |
| 30 |
Nevada |
24 |
5345 |
Voted
to affirm behavioral standards. |
| 31 |
E.
Oklahoma |
72 |
13,106
|
Will
consider resolution on Dec. 4 |
| 32
|
Seattle |
58 |
20,352
|
Vote
scheduled Jan. 17 |
| 33 |
Prospect
Hill |
57 |
8,767 |
Affirmed
standards |
| 34 |
Northumberland |
44 |
5,419 |
Debate
and vote scheduled March 17, 2007 |
| 35 |
Stockton |
22 |
4,115 |
Affirmed
standards |
| 36 |
Los
Ranchos |
51 |
2,159 |
Affirmed
standards |
| 37 |
Florida |
44 |
8,617 |
Reviewing
resolution |
|
Florida has become the 37th presbytery to be asked to adhere to
the ordination requirements in the Book of Order.
The session of Grace Presbyterian Church in Panama City submitted an
overture to the Presbytery of Florida calling on the presbytery to
approve the following:
In its discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity and
for the sake of the peace, unity, and purity of the church, this
governing body adopts the principle that compliance with the standards
for ordination set out explicitly for 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 and/or installation
by this governing body. Provisions of the Book of Orderare
signified as being standards by use of the term "shall," "is/are
to be," "requirement," or equivalent expression.
To date, The Layman Online has received reports that:
- 16 presbyteries have affirmed the constitutional requirements.
But remedial complaints have been filed with Permanent Judicial
Commissions asking the synod courts to order three presbyteries to
rescind their action. General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton
Kirkpatrick has declared that the overtures are unconstitutional
even though they support a constitutional requirement.
- One presbytery disapproved a resolution to affirm the
requirements but has scheduled a second vote on a similar
resolution.
- Three presbyteries have disapproved resolutions.
- Most of the other presbyteries have not taken final action.
|