Three more presbyteries declare 'fidelity/chastity' standards essential The Layman Online Monday, October 2, 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 Votes yes, no and maybe 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 Three more presbyteries have adopted resolutions affirming that the constitutional "fidelity/chastity" ordination standards in the Book of Order are "essentials of Reformed polity" despite the 2006 General Assembly's authoritative interpretation that allows ordaining bodies to waive the requirements. They join a growing list of presbyteries affirming the constitutional requirement, G-6.0l06b in the Book of Order. Two of the presbyteries approved resolutions in the aftermath of the Birmingham General Assembly's action, while one approved a resolution nine days before the assembly convened. On June 6, the Presbytery of South Louisiana approved a resolution declaring that the constitutional "fidelity/chastity" clause in the Book of Order is an essential. On Aug. 22, the Presbytery of New Covenant approved the following policy: "The Presbytery of New Covenant in its discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity and for the sake of preserving the peace, unity and purity of the church does adopt the principle that compliance with the standards for ordination adopted and held authoritative in the Book of Order shall remain essentials of Reformed polity and any departure from said standards for ordination set forth in the Book of Order will disqualify a candidate for ordination or installation by the Presbytery of New Covenant. Those provisions of the Book of Order deemed to be standards and therefore essentials of polity include those statements using 'shall,' 'is/are to be,' 'required,' 'requirement,' or equivalent expressions. "This discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity shall remain in effect until removed by a majority vote of the Presbytery of New Covenant." On Sept. 26, Beaver-Butler Presbytery approved what it termed the "reaffirmation of ordination standards of Beaver-Butler Presbytery:" "In its discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity and for the sake of peace, unity, and purity of the church, the Beaver-Butler Presbytery adopts the principle that compliance with all constitutional standards including standards for ordination, adopted by the whole church in the Book of Order, are essentials 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 Beaver-Butler Presbytery. Provisions of the Book of Order are signified as being standards by the use of the term 'shall,' 'is/are to be,' 'requirement,' or equivalent expressions."

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