PCUSA "Amendment B" Deleted

The motion from the Committee on Church Orders and Ministry passed to remove "Amendment B" from the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s Book of Order – the denomination's constitution.  Here is the previous version in the PCUSA Book of Order:

"Those called to office in the church are to lead a life of 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." (Book of Order, G-6.0106b)

Here is the amended version that just passed this afternoon:

"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."

This repeals an authoritative interpretation that was passed in 2006 and will give more flexibility for local presbyteries to discuss and now vote on their position regarding ordination standards.  Today marks a very palpable moment of possibile change and transition for the PCUSA.  No matter where you stand on the issue, pray that the people of the PCUSA will be able to discern God's call in their communities.

UPDATE: Reported by The Presbyterian Outlook here.  Ratification will now occur over the next year requiring a majority vote of the PCUSA's 173 regional presbyteries.

(T)he Assembly’s vote on the new amendment also included the directive to rescind all Authoritative Interpretations to the Constitution, dating back to 1978, that have stated that homosexual practice is not compatible with ordained service in the denomination.  The elimination of this interpretive language does not overturn the prohibition; that would take effect only if the proposed amendment gets ratified.  But the authoritative interpretations provided much more specificity to the constitutional policy.

The New York Times released a short piece here.

The full article from the AP is here.

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