As of February 4, 2023, at least 69 presbyteries have voted and the results thus far indicate that ten of the proposed amendments have received the necessary approval 2/3 of presbyteries, receiving at least 59 presbyteries voting in favor. Two of the amendments were not approved, with Overture 15 garnering approval from 57% of the presbyteries, and Overture 8 approved by 55% of the presbyteries.
The 49th General Assembly (2022) of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) approved twelve proposed amendments to the Book of Church Order (BCO). For these amendments to be approved, requires that 2/3 of the eighty-eight presbyteries must approve them, and those approved by 2/3 of the presbyteries would have to be approved one more time by the 50th GA.
As of February 4, 2023, at least 69 presbyteries have voted and the results thus far indicate that ten of the proposed amendments have received the necessary approval 2/3 of presbyteries, receiving at least 59 presbyteries voting in favor. Two of the amendments were not approved, with Overture 15 garnering approval from 57% of the presbyteries, and Overture 8 approved by 55% of the presbyteries.
Overture 15 was seeking to amend BCO 7 by adding a fourth paragraph on qualifications for church office. The amendment stated: “Men who describe themselves as homosexual, even those who describe themselves as homosexual and claim to practice celibacy by refraining from homosexual conduct, are disqualified from holding office in the Presbyterian Church in America.”
Overture 8 was an attempt to fix an area of dispute concerning how a higher court (General Assembly or a presbytery) could assume original jurisdiction over a lower court in a case of doctrinal or public scandal. Those who presented the amended wording were seeking to remedy the differing interpretations of BCO 33-1 and BCO 34-1.
Two overtures that have been receiving very favorable approval are Overture 29 and Overture 31. Both of these amendments arose from issues related to Revoice. The proposed overtures were quite similar to overtures approved by the 48th General Assembly but did not receive the necessary 2/3 approval of presbyteries. They were redrafted and both passed the 49th GA overwhelmingly, and presbyteries have been approving Overture 29 with 98.5% in favor and Overture 31 with 94% in favor. Overture 29 would amend BCO 16-4 on qualifications for church office. And Overture 31 would amend BCO 21-4 and 24-1 on requirements for ordination.
The rest of the amendments were not seen as controversial and are being approved by 94% or more of the presbyteries. The votes on the amendment are being regularly updated on this spreadsheet.
