Committee approves overture to delete 'fidelity and chastity' By Robert P. Mills The Layman Online Wednesday, June 23, 1999 FORT WORTH – Ignoring a parliamentary ruling that they could no longer take the action, the Assembly Committee on Church Orders and Ministries approved Overture 99-2 which calls for G-6.0106b, the so-called "fidelity and chastity" clause, to be deleted from the PCUSA's Book of Order. Adopted by the 1996 General Assembly and approved by the presbyteries as Amendment B, G-6.0106b was affirmed by a 2-1 vote of the presbyteries in defeating the Syracuse Assembly's Amendment A, which would have watered-down the provision. 'In their face' "Even if this is voted down," said Youth Advisory Delegate Katie McKean of Sheppards and Lapsley Presbytery, "we're making this in their face, and that's where it ought to be." Earlier in the day, following a complex parliamentary tangle, the committee voted down Overture 99-2, replacing it with a substitute motion. Having been disposed of by the committee, under Robert's Rules of Order, which normally governs the business of the Assembly, the overture properly could not come back before them. However, committee moderator Kathy Runyeon, minister commissioner from Redwoods Presbytery, ruled "Let's pretend that didn't happen," and the committee entertained a motion to approve the Milwaukee overture. Although several of the chair's previous rulings had been appealed, this one went unchallenged. Debate on the resurrected overture went late into the evening. Shortly before 10:00 p.m., the question was called and debate was closed. After debate was closed, both an overture advocate and the committee member who moved its adoption were allowed to speak in its favor. Amending the deleted provision Immediately after voting to delete the provision from the Book of Order, the committee then moved to amend the deleted provision as proposed in Overture 99-27 from St. Andrew Presbytery. That motion was defeated. Overture 99-30 from Philadelphia Presbytery, also seeking to amend G-6.0106b was then moved for approval. Again, after the question was called and debate was closed, an overture advocate was allowed to speak in favor of the overture. The motion to approve Overture 99-30 was defeated 17 in favor, 22 against. The entire Assembly will vote on the committee's recommendation to delete G-6.0106b later in the week. |
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