Seven sessions ask
presbytery
to stand by ordination standards
The Layman
Online
Monday, November
27, 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. |
|
In spite of complaints being filed by denominational loyalists
after their presbyteries voted not to allow exceptions to the "fidelity/chastity"
ordination requirements, the sessions of seven congregations have asked
Western Reserve Presbytery to uphold the requirements.
The governing bodies of Bay Presbyterian Church, Christ Presbyterian
Church First Presbyterian Church Ashtabula, Glenville New Life Community
Church, Highland Sixth Presbyterian Church, Northfield Presbyterian
Church and Pierpont Presbyterian Church submitted their joint overture
on Nov. 27.
They asked the presbytery to approve a resolution stating:
- 1. "That it is the policy of this Presbytery to treat as
essential all the standards for ordination and installation to
church office in the Form of Government, including the requirement
that deacons, elders and ministers "live either in fidelity
within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or in
chastity in singleness" (G-6.0106b); and
- 2. "To resolve further that this Presbytery will neither
offer nor accept any scruple about or exception to the
Constitutional standards for ordination and installation within its
jurisdiction, except as provided in the Book of Order
G-14.0313; and
- 3. "To direct that the Presbytery's Policy and Procedures
for Care of Inquirers and Candidates for the Ministry of Word and
Sacrament be revised to insert the following text: All who
participate in examinations of candidates for ordination or
installation, including the candidates themselves, shall be made
aware of the Presbytery's policy that each and every requirement for
ordination and installation in the Form of Government is essential,
including G-6.0106b, and the Presbytery does not offer or accept any
scruple about or exception to them, except as provided in the Book
of Order G-14.0313."
Western Reserve is the 30th presbytery to receive a resolution
supporting G-6.0106b since the 2006 General Assembly approved an
authoritative interpretation that allows ordaining bodies to grant
exceptions to the "fidelity/chastity" clause.
Twelve presbyteries have approved resolutions. But remedial complaints
have been filed with synod Permanent Judicial Commissions challenging
the authority of three presbyteries to express their opposition to the
General Assembly by holding fast to the constitutional requirements.
The complaints ask the synod courts to require the presbyteries of
Olympia, Sacramento and
the Mid-South to rescind
their resolutions.
Also, General Assembly Stated Clerk Clifton Kirpatrick has expressed
his opposition to presbyteries' resolving to uphold G-6.0106b.
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." |