The current vote will be the fifth time since 1996 that the PCUSA has voted on sexual standards for ordained officers. In all four previous votes, the denomination has upheld the fidelity-chastity standard.

Though many presbyteries are holding off their votes on proposed amendments to the Book of Order and Book of Confessions until next year, several wasted no time casting ballots.

According to The Layman’s vote tracking, there have been no surprises thus far.

Amendment 10-A
Early in the voting on Amendment 10-A, which would reword ordination standards in the Book of Order and exclude the existing fidelity-chastity requirement, presbyteries have been consistent with the 2008-2009 voting results. However, some presbyteries already have seen far more “yes” votes for the constitutional amendment than in past years, while a few others have strengthened the “no” vote…

As of Nov. 19, the vote total stands at 4 (yes) – 11 (no) in favor of changing the standard. Pittsburgh Presbytery is among the most recent to debate the issue and vote on the amendment, which if passed by a majority of the presbyteries would remove the requirement that ordained officers be faithful in marriage between a man and woman, or chaste in singleness.

Pittsburgh rejected Amendment 10-A on Nov. 18 in a 80-163 vote. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, there was a 20-minute debate on the issue. The Rev. Sheldon Sorge was quoted in the story in his defense of maintaining the current standard: “Some people see this as being about GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender) persons being included, and others see beyond that to whether we have meaningful behavioral standards at all on a national level for officers.”

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