Ordination resolutions Santa Barbara approves one; Seattle schedules Jan. 17 vote The Layman Online Friday, December 1, 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 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 32 Seattle 58 20,352 Vote scheduled Jan. 17 The Presbytery of Santa Barbara in California has approved a resolution stating that "compliance with the standards for ordination adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order is an essential of Reformed polity." The resolution also says that "any departure from the standards for ordination expressed in the Book of Order will bar a candidate from ordination and/or installation or from being received as a member by the Presbytery of Santa Barbara. 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." Santa Barbara is one of 13 presbyteries that have approved resolutions affirming the constitutional "fidelity/chastity" requirement in the Book of Order. The Layman Online has also received a report that the Presbytery of Seattle has scheduled a vote on a similar resolution at its meeting on Jan. 17. In sum, 32 presbyteries have considered resolutions. One presbytery declared the resolution unconstitutional. Seventeen presbyteries have either not voted or not reported their results. General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirkpatrick warned presbyteries that they were exceeding their authority by approving resolutions to uphold the constitution. In a Sept. 8 letter to the stated clerks of the 173 presbyteries in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Kirkpatrick said, "I am particularly concerned about proposals that I hear are coming to some of our presbyteries that are not in accord with our Constitution and its authoritative interpretations (which also have the binding authority of the Constitution itself). I hope, in your role as stated clerks, you will join me in reminding Presbyterians that while dissent and advocacy for change are deeply engrained Presbyterian values, no presbytery by any vote margin has the authority to take actions that are not in accord with the Constitution, or to set aside its provisions." Kirkpatrick's letter suggests that he believes the authoritative interpretation approved by the 2006 General Assembly trumps the constitutional requirements. That interpretation allows ordaining bodies to declare that the "fidelity/chastity" requirement in the Book of Order is not essential.

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