Vote for ordination standard running stronger than in '97 The Layman Online Monday, November 26, 2001 The percentage of commissioners who believe the "fidelity/chastity" constitutional standard should govern the ordination of officers in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is running significantly higher in balloting on Amendment 01-A than when the standard was adopted in 1997. As of Nov. 26, 24 of the denomination's 174 presbyteries (13.8 percent) had voted on Amendment 01-A, which, if approved, would end the prohibition against ordaining ministers, elders and deacons who refuse to limit their sexual activity to marriage. Twenty-two presbyteries had voted against Amendment 01-A and two had voted in favor of the proposal. Four of the 24 presbyteries resolved the issue by voice vote, all opposing Amendment 01-A; thus, no tally from them is available. The other 20 voted by written ballot. In the 20 presbyteries voting by written ballot, 70.3 percent of the commissioners voted against Amendment 01-A. In 1997, 61.7 percent of the commissioners in the same 20 presbyteries voted in favor of what was then known as Amendment B. (Amendment B became G-6.106b in the Book of Order.) Two presbyteries that voted against Amendment B in 1997 have voted against Amendment A – in effect, changing their position on the issue. There have been no switches in the other direction. Overall, the number of commissioners voting is running slightly higher than in 1997 despite a sharp decline in total membership. Observers believe that reflects a higher turnout by elders, who, according to surveys by the denomination, are more likely to uphold the "fidelity/chastity" standard than ministers and specialized clergy.

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