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 several 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 2010/11 proposed changes and vote:
The text of the proposed changes to Amendment B
An excellent Biblical resource for LGBT people and allies in dealing with Amendment B from More Light Presbyterians.
During the 2008/09 voting period, Presbyterian Welcome Board Member Rich Hong gave this speech on the floor of Palisades Presbytery in favor of changing 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.)
