Some will ask why the General Assembly keeps discussing these issues when previous assemblies have already responded to them. The answer is that the assembly by the rules that govern it, has the responsibility to respond to questions or resolutions that are submitted to it by the presbyteries. Fifteen presbyteries, one commissioner’s resolution, and three communications from GA agencies requested that the Assembly address various aspects of questions around ordination. The resolutions reflected the wide theological spectrum of the Presbyterian Church.
The procedure is for all resolutions to be sent to appropriate committees consisting of a random sample of elder and clergy commissioners. Most of these committees consisted of about 75 commissioners. Interested parties may sign up to testify to the committee about their perspective on any of the resolutions before a committee. The committee may also seek out expert advice in order to help them come to an understanding of the issues before them.
The Committee on Church Orders and Ministry was assigned these nineteen resolutions. After extensive hearings and debate among themselves, the committee recommended by a vote of 41-11 (there were some who chose not to vote) to recommend to General Assembly that G-6.0106b, frequently referred to as the fidelity and chastity amendment, be replaced by wording that asked candidates, elders, and pastors to declare their fidelity to the standards of the church articulated in their ordination vows without singling out sexual conduct above the other standards.
It also recommended that the body doing the ordaining, churches with respect to elders and presbyteries with respect to pastors, examine and determine the candidate’s sincere efforts to live by these standards. They replaced previous Authoritative Interpretations and would permit candidates to declare “scruples” or reservations on the basis of conscience to any of the standards for ordination. The ordaining body would then determine whether such scruples would prevent the person from being ordained or not.
This recommendation, along with a minority report, was then put before the whole assembly that, after lengthy but civil debate, voted 380 to 325, or 54% to 46%, in favor of the committee recommendation. Since this would mean a change in the Book of Order, the proposal will now be sent to each of the 173 presbyteries, a majority of which would have to vote in favor for it to be approved. If the General Assembly is representative of the church’s membership, then the church splits almost down the middle on this issue, one side getting a few more votes this time and a few less the next time. The real challenge is whether such a church can demonstrate to the world a Christian love towards each other as they debate this issue about which so many feel so strongly.
The proposed new G-6.0106b reads as follows:
“Those who are called to ordained service in the church, by their assent to the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003), pledge themselves to live lives obedient to Jesus Christ the Head of the Church, striving to follow where he leads through the witness of the Scriptures, and to understand the Scriptures through the instruction of the Confessions. In so doing, they declare their fidelity to the standards of the Church. Each governing body charged with examination for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240 and G-14.0450) establishes the candidate’s sincere efforts to adhere to these standards.
Is the discussion over? Hardly! While this is a representative sample of both clergy and actively involved elders from across the nation, Presbyterians want to make sure that such changes are not just the result of an emotional response. There is a procedure that slows the process and helps in the discerning of God’s purpose. This new recommendation will be sent to the 173 presbyteries who themselves will discuss and vote on the proposal. A majority of them also have to vote in favor for the change to be made.
The church like the nation is not of one mind on this subject. From the faith perspective, we have not been able to discern the will of God. For Presbyterians, that means more discussion and more praying. Stay tuned.
