Two presbyteries
affirm
standards; one votes against
resolutions on ordination
The Layman
Online
Wednesday, December
6, 2006 (Corrected December 7, 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 |
|
In recent votes, two presbyteries affirmed the constitutional
ordination requirements in the Book of Order – declaring
that they are an essential expression of Reformed polity – and one
rejected a similar proposal.
The Presbytery of Cherokee in northwest Georgia and the Presbytery of
Prospect Hill, which serves congregations in northwest Iowa and Sioux
City, Neb., approved identical resolutions stating:
"In the discernment of the essentials of Reformed polity and for
the sake of the peace, unity, and purity of the church, Cherokee
Presbytery adopts the principle that compliance with the standards for
ordination adopted by 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 or installation by this governing body.
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."
Grace Presbytery in Texas rejected a similar resolution.
To date, The Layman Online has received reports from 33 presbyteries
that have considered resolutions calling for enforcement of the
constitutional ordination requirements.
- 14 presbyteries have affirmed the constitutional requirements.
But remedial complaints have been filed with Permanent Judicial
Commissions asking the synod courts to order the presbyteries to
rescind their action.
- 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.
|