Yes on Ordination
Amendment O8-B!
Campaign Resources
[10-30-08]
Answering God's Call To Serve
More Light Presbyterians rejoices in how God's
spirit has moved the 218th General Assembly to heal the divisions in
our church with the passage of the Ordination Overture 08-B. As we
enter this period of dialogue and discernment, MLP will be
organizing an educational campaign in partnership with friends from
across our denomination.
Proposed text of the new G-6.0106b:
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 amendment restores constitutional language to
the standards for ordination. It places its emphasis on the vows
every officer must take as he/she is ordained and/or installed. It
rightly places the responsibility for determining fitness for office
on the examining governing body.
This landing page will be a clearing house for a
number of important resources and tools to enable folks from across
our church to participate in activities and events targeted at
creating real dialogue, discussion, and discernment.
Resources
MLP National Board Statement: Answering God's Call To
Serve
Link to the PCUSA booklet of proposed amendments
The revisions to G-6.0106b, as approved by the 218th General
Assembly, appear on page 3 of 48.
Guidelines for Communal Discernment
by Reverend Victoria G. Curtiss with an introduction by Linda Bryant
Valentine and Clifton Kirkpatrick
Presbyterian Understanding and Use of Holy Scripture
+ Biblical Authority and Interpretation
The Office of Theology and Worship, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Resources for Fostering Community and Dialogue
The Theological Task Force on Peace, Unity, and Purity of the
Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the
Myths, Heal the Church
by former Moderator Jack
Rogers. Free study guide available (here).
A Time to Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in
Religion, Law, and Politics
by Princeton Theological Seminary Professor
William Stacy Johnson. Free study guide (here).
Anyone
and Everyone (DVD). Free discussion guide
(here).
For the Bible Tells Me So
(DVD). Free study guides available (here).
So how can you help?
Here are a few ideas:
Help organize educational events in your
Presbytery. For example you could organize a showing of "Anyone and
Everyone" or "For the Bible Tells Me So," with discussion and
fellowship afterwards. A four week or six week study group of
Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality or A Time to Embrace
would also help facilitate the process of discernment.
Host a house party to show one of these DVDs or a
book club to discuss one of these books.
Write an essay about why the PCUSA should vote in
favor of Ordination Amendment 08-B and post it on your blog,
website, or Facebook page -- and send it to us!
We also need volunteers to help get out the vote.
Send me an e-mail (toby@mlp.org)
and let me know which Presbytery you are in, when your Presbytery
will be voting, and how to reach you.
FAQ on Ordination Amendment 08-B
1. What does the revised text actually say?
By a vote of 54% to 46% the 218th GA sends to the
presbyteries the following amendment to the Form of Government:
To replace the present text of G-6-0106b with
this:
G-6.0106b. 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.
2. Why is this text better than the paragraph it
replaces?
This revision better reflects our Presbyterian
traditions. This amendment restores constitutional language to
the standards for ordination. It places its emphasis on the vows
every officer must take as he/she is ordained and/or installed.
It rightly places the responsibility for determining fitness for
office on the examining governing body.
This revision is better theologically. The
revised text puts the focus exactly where it should be – on
Jesus, the Scriptures, and the Confessions – the essential
values at the center of our theological tradition. Since all of
us, all the time, sin and fall short of God's glory, it should
remain with the governing and the electing bodies to make the
judgment with grace and faithfulness to Scripture and the
Constitution, of any potential officer's character and gifts for
office.
This revision therefore represents a higher
standard for ordained office, since it broadly includes all
aspects of character and qualification for candidates for the
offices of Deacon, Elder, and Minister of Word and Sacrament.
3. How might this amendment bring the church
together again?
This amendment represents a compromise that
restores traditional Reformed understandings of ordination
standards that should be acceptable to most Presbyterians.
Properly understood, this amendment should enable our church to
lay aside our conflicts and to move forward in mission and
growth.
4. When will this vote take place?
Each presbytery will vote on the Amendment 08-B
according to a schedule determined by the Council of that
presbytery. The 218th General Assembly strongly encouraged every
presbytery to develop a process of discernment and prayer before
any vote is taken. The Stated Clerk of the PCUSA has asked that
all votes by taken by mid-May, 2009, so that printing of the
Book of Order may proceed in a timely fashion. Contact your
Stated Clerk or Council to find out what the schedule is. Try to
encourage a reconciling process and a secret ballot on the
amendment at a meeting most convenient for elder commissioners.
5. Will churches and presbyteries still be able to
elect the officers they want?
Yes. In the Reformed tradition the election of
church officers, Deacons, Elders and Ministers of Word and
Sacrament, belongs to the body in which they will serve. The
examination of those elected must be carried out by the
governing body that has responsibility for election. No church
officer may be placed in a permanent position without the
consent of the people.
6. How can this process be made more reconciling
and positive?
The 218th General Assembly strongly encouraged
all presbyteries to develop a process for prayer and discernment
leading to this vote. To help your presbytery prepare for a
constructive, reconciling and positive ratification, see the
resources listed above.
Volunteer to help ratify Amendment 08-B in your Presbytery!
Send an e-mail to our new Associate Director, Toby
Rogers: toby@mlp.org. Kindly
include your name, contact info, and which Presbytery you are in.
We're looking forward to hearing from you!
