With fewer than 50 votes making the difference, commissioners approved the overture 373-323-4

The 219th General Assembly voted to send, for a fifth time, an overture that seeks the deletion of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s fidelity-chastity standard, which requires ordained officers to be faithful in marriage between a man and a woman or chaste in singleness.

Overture 06-09 was authored by Western Reserve Presbytery and, if ratified by a majority of presbyteries, replaces the current G-6.0106b with wording that removes the fidelity-chastity standard. With fewer than 50 votes making the difference, commissioners approved the overture 373-323-4

The overture next will move to the denomination’s 173 presbyteries, which will vote on whether to ratify the change to the Book of Order. This will be the fifth attempt to delete or change the standard since it was added to the constitution following GA approval in 1996.

The new proposed standard calls on ordained officers to submit “joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life.” It does not, however, restrict any specific behaviors. Some argued that the new standard would create a “local option” of sorts for the congregations and presbyteries in charge of ordaining elders, deacons and ministers.

The standard has been criticized as a way to prevent practicing, unrepentant LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people from serving in leadership church. The only exclusions of the current standard, which applies to heterosexuals as well, is that ordained officers cannot be sexually active outside the bond of marriage between a man and woman.

Debate
Arguments ranged from Biblically-based standards and worries about churches and members leaving the PCUSA in protest, to hurting the church’s witness through “exclusionary” standards and the requirements actually being “higher” since its focus is on the lordship of Christ.

Many in the debate said that another attempt to remove the fidelity-chastity standard would lead to more wholesale departures of congregations and individual members.

Hector Reynoso of Grace Presbytery stood for vice-moderator of the GA just a few days earlier. On Thursday, he warned that his family and members of his community would have to leave the denomination.

“It’s either a sin or it’s not; but it’s not both,” he said. “If this motion passes and is ratified by the presbyteries, those who stand with me will be leaving this denomination. Today, I stand for Jesus and I invite you to stand with me.”

Several commissioners also warned that adding an “amend G-6.0106b” overture to an already weighty list of consideration, including GA-endorsed Book of Confession changes and an overhaul of the denomination’s Form of Government.

“These are serious matters that need to be given serious consideration. … It will not get the consideration its due,” said William Reid Dalton III of Salem Presbytery.

Concerns about how the action would be perceived by those outside the denomination also were expressed.

Frank Robertson of Southern New England Presbytery, who spoke in favor of 06-09, said that the perceived discrimination of G-6.0106b makes the denomination relevant among young people. Matt Stith of Northern Plains Presbytery, who opposed the overture, expressed worry that fellowship in the “Global South,” namely Africa.

“They cannot even understand such a departure from Scripture Stith said.

Minority report
Opponents of the proposed constitutional amendment submitted a minority report that called on the GA to keep the current standards and sending a “pastoral letter” to every congregation in the denomination. The letter expressed regret about the way the church has treated LGBTs, and calls on repentance by the entire denomination, as well as efforts to minister to the LGBT community.

The letter was amended, debated and eventually defeated in a 289-331 vote with 50 commissioners abstaining. Its proponents argued that it offered space to continue discussing the issue without deleting the current standard, but opponents said it was not a just option for those who are excluded.

Larry Lindsay of Santa Barbara Presbytery presented the minority report, which was originally introduced at the committee level but was rejected. He spoke to its rationale on behalf of a group that began pushing an alternate to the amended standard while in committee.

In asking the Assembly to support the minority report, Lindsay said that the committee erred in its recommendations and removing the current ordination standards would equate to lower standards. He also warned that it will further damage to the denomination.

“We just got through voting on changing the ordination standards,” he said. “On Monday I can assure you there is going to be great consternation and debate in our local congregations and presbyteries.”

What will it mean?
In 2008 the 218th GA in San Jose, Calif., approved a similar overture. It was rejected by a majority of the denomination’s presbyteries, but the vote was closer than ever. The close contest, 94 voted no and 78 voted yes on the amendment, was treated as a victory by the LGBT lobby.

The next round of presbytery voting will be the fourth time since 1996 that fidelity-chastity standard opponents have unsuccessfully attempted to remove it. The 209th, 213th and 218th GAs approved similar G-6.0106b amendments, but all were objected when put to the presbyteries.

The spokeswoman for the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, an LGBT advocacy group, is optimistic about this round of voting.

“I think the next time is our time,” said Deborah Block, co-moderator of the Covenant Network and a Milwaukee pastor.

The Presbyterian Coalition, an organization that backs the current ordination standards, released a statement Thursday night once the GA vote was final:

“We grieve the decision today by our General Assembly to recommend removing the moral standard for our ministers and officers that rightly requires fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness,” the Coalition news release states. “The action was adopted by a narrow margin. Nevertheless, it marks a separation from the teaching of the universal Church on holiness of life. The Holy Scripture teaches us to flee sexual immorality”

Presbyteries soon will have the opportunity to speak their minds on the oft-debated issue.