Three additional Presbyteries voted on January 18:one in favor of the changes, one opposed to the changes, and one splitting – voting in favor of the amendment to BCO 14-1 and voting against the amendment to BCO 14-2. There are now 22 Presbyteries who have voted for both amendments, with 53 required for ratification. This means that of the 34 remaining Presbyteries yet to vote, it will take 31 of them to fully ratify the changes.

On January 18 the following Presbyteries voted:

Missouri Presbytery voted in favor.
On 14-1: Yes 51; No 15; Abstain 5
On 14-2: Yes 49; No 20; Abstain 3

Warrior Presbytery voted against.
On 14-1: Yes 11; No 12; Abstain 2
On 14-2: Yes 10; No 12; Abstain 3

Ohio Valley Presbytery split its vote, one in favor and one against.
On 14-1: Yes 15; No 10; Abstain 2
On 14-2: Yes 7; No 20; Abstain 1

The implication of the split vote appears to support the theory that while the churches have the responsibility to support the administrative work of the church, they did not support the proposed methods to solve the problem. The failure of the amendment to change BCO 14-2 would have the effect of stopping the process, so this split vote could be viewed as a ‘no’ vote.

The vote of Presbyteries has crossed the halfway point since 45 Presbyteries of the 79 have now voted. Most of the remaining 34 will be voting on the amendments during their winter stated meetings.

The two amendments to BCO 14-1 and 14-2 will have the effect of changing the way the Administrative Committee, which includes the Stated Clerk’s office, would be funded. It would also change the definition of “voting membership” for General Assembly meetings.

If these BCO amendments are adopted by two-thirds of PCA Presbyteries, each local church, each teaching elder, and each Presbytery would be required to pay an “annual registration fee” in order to attend and vote at General Assembly meetings. Churches would be “required” to pay 1/3 of 1 % of their annual tithes and offerings to support the Administrative Committee. Teaching elders would be required to pay $100.00 a year, and Presbyteries would have to pay $500.00 a year. If approved, these amendments would require the payment of annual fees; if not paid annually, these fees will accrue and all unpaid fees will have to be paid in full before elders from the respective churches could be seated as voting members of General Assembly.

The Presbyteries voting in favor of adopting the BCO 14 amendments include:

1. Central Florida
2. Central Georgia
3. Eastern Canada
4. Evangel
5. Georgia Foothills
6. Heritage
7. Houston Metro
8. James River
9. Korean Capital
10. Korean Southeastern
11. Korean Southern
12. Metro New York
13. Missouri
14. New Jersey
15. Northern California
16. Ohio Valley (only on BCO 14-1)*
17. Pacific Northwest
18. Potomac
19. Providence
20. Southwest Florida
21. Susquehanna Valley
22. Western Canada

The Presbyteries voting against adopting the BCO 14 amendments include:

1. Blue Ridge
2. Eastern Pennsylvania
3. Grace
4. Great Lakes
5. Gulfstream
6. Illiana
7. Korean Eastern
8. Korean Northwest
9. Louisiana
10. Mississippi Valley
11. New River
12. Northwest Georgia
13. Ohio
14. Ohio Valley (only on BCO 14-2)*
15. Philadelphia
16. Philadelphia Metro West
17. Savannah River
18. South Florida
19. Southern New England
20. Suncoast
21. Tennessee Valley
22. Warrior
23. Westminster
24. Wisconsin

To view the votes by Presbytery on a map, go here.[Editor’s note: the original URL (link) referenced is no longer valid, so the link has been removed.]