Amendment G-6.0106b
The text of G-6.0106b, adopted as an amendment to the Book of Order in 1996/7:
“Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.”
Since its adoption, there have been three attempts to remove or change amendment b. These decisions were approved by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), but failed to be ratified by a majority of the denomination’s 173 Presbyteries. (More on the structure of the PC (USA) at the denominational website.)
Presbyweb has complied basic information on each vote, as well as a chart of all previous votes broken down by presbytery.
More on the 2008/09 proposed changes and vote:
The text of the proposed changes to Amendment b
Covenant Network of Presbyteriansproduced a helpful word-by-word comparison of amendment b and the 2008 changes, as well as this helpful guide:Responses to Frequently Asked Questions/Objections
An excellent Biblical resource for LGBT people and allies in dealing with Amendment b from More Light Presbyterians.
Presbyterian Welcome Board Member Rich Hong gave this speech on the floor of Palisades Presbytery in favor of Amendment B.
Our own 2008-2009 Amendment G-6.0106b Vote Tally.
The John Knox Overture
From the 218th General Assembly in 2008, the John Knox Overture affirms that individuals may declare “principled objections”/”departures”/”scruples.” (See the discussion of “scruples” here.)
The PUP Report
Released in 2005, the Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the Church’s final statement. is a record of their journey to “discern the church’s ‘Christian identity in and for the 21st century’ and to devise ‘a process and instrument’ to help the church deal with issues that are causing conflict, including sexuality and ordination, interpretation of the Bible, questions about Jesus Christ and salvation, and the use of power in the church.” (taken from the PC(USA)’s summary of the task force’s goals and recommendations, found here.)
What can I do to build up the denomination in this time of waiting and watching? Is there any way to take this deeper than taking sides over a controversial issue?
We think so. That’s why we started 1,000 conversations, in partnership with That All May Freely Serve. 1,000 Conversations is about changing the tenor of the debate. Over the next several months, presbyteries across the country will be voting to strike the current language of G-6.0106b. The new language would no longer prohibit gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered persons from ordination or installation as Elders or Ministers of the Word and Sacrament.
Here’s what we need you to do: Go to 1000conversations.org and pledge to have a conversation. or 2. or 3… And then find someone in your church who you know disagrees with you on this issue, or maybe someone who you don’t know where they stand, and invite them to have a conversation–a sincere speaking and listening conversation about your faith journeys. It’s not an invitation to debate the issue but to form a relationship that will build compassion for people on all sides of this…an invitation to build a better church.
