Position Statement

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Central Presbyterian Church's Position
On the Vote by the 2001 General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church of the United States of America
to Repeal and Amend the "Fidelity and Chastity Amendment"

There has been a great deal of controversy surrounding the proposal to amend the ordination standards for the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Session of Central Presbyterian Church wishes to clarify the issue and state its position on the General Assembly's actions. In addition, the Session wishes to reaffirm its commitment to Biblical standards for ordination of all church officers.

Background

There is substantial confusion surrounding the General Assembly's actions. Recent reports in The Baltimore Sun, for example, implied that the General Assembly voted to approve the ordination of homosexual ministers. This is not the case. At this point, no action other than a proposal is on the table.

What is the proposal?

The General Assembly recommends repealing what is commonly called "The Fidelity and Chastity Amendment." This is currently church standard found in G.6.0106b of the Book of Church Order. The section states:

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 (W4.9001), 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.

The proposal would replace the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment with language stating that an officer's "suitability to hold office is determined by the governing body where the examination for ordination or installation takes place, guided by scriptural and constitutional standards, under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus Christ."

Accompanying this proposed amendment is a proposed "authoritative interpretation." This authoritative interpretation states:

Interpretive statements concerning ordained service by homosexual persons by the General Assembly (1978) of the United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America and the 119th General Assembly (1979) of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, and all subsequent denominational affirmations thereof, shall be given no force or effect; and Section G-6.0106(a) of the Form of Government, together with the other prerequisites for ordination expressly stated in our Book of Order, hereby are affirmed as the sole and exclusive standards for ordination by ordaining bodies acting in prayerful discernment of the leading of Almighty God, pending the approval of the related proposed amendment.

At this point, both the amendment and the "authoritative interpretation" are only proposals. They are not currently part of the Presbyterian Church (USA)'s constitution. They will not become part of the constitution unless a majority of presbyteries in the United States approves these changes. Thus, at the present time, the "fidelity and chastity amendment" is still a key component of the church's ordination standards.

Central Church's Position on the Proposed Amendment and Its Related Issues

Central Presbyterian Church opposes this attempt to amend the ordination standards.

Defense of Central Church's Opposition to the Proposed Amendments and Interpretive Statement

Given the accompanying "authoritative interpretation," it is clear that the attempted repeal of the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment is intended to, and surely will, open the door to the ordination of practicing homosexuals. We believe such conduct is an affront to Scripture and the purity of the church and, therefore, the Session opposes any attempt to remove the Fidelity and Chastity Amendment from the ordination standards.

Scripture sets clear boundaries on individual conduct. These boundaries include the clear mandate that sex is a solemn covenant reserved for a man and a woman in marriage. We believe it is imperative for ordained officers of the church to recognize and comply with this boundary.

Unfortunately, some in our denomination do not recognize the clear teaching of Scripture. The Fidelity and Chastity Amendment is, therefore, a necessary requirement during a time when some in our denomination, and may in our larger culture, apparently believe that truth is defined by the individual, not by Scripture.

The Session stresses that it welcomes all people, including homosexuals, to Central Church. Homosexual practice is a sin, but it is not the only sin. All of us, not just practicing homosexuals, have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

The Session recognizes that all of us require God's mercy. We are called to repent and sin no more. The members of the Session recognize their constant need for repentance. We are not perfect, and all church officers must continually repent of "any self- acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin . . . ." (Fidelity and Chastity Amendment).

The Session further calls the members of Central Church to love and pray for the homosexual community in a Christ-like fashion. Many members of this church are actively involved in ministering to gay men and lesbian women through prayer, bible studies, and counseling. Other members minister to patients with AIDS or HIV, many of whom are homosexual. Others have friendships with gays and lesbians. The Session encourages and condones these Christ-like ministries which recognize sin but accepts the individual.

Finally, in this time of debate, the Session wishes to reaffirm its Covenant of Faithfulness To Jesus Christ Among the Presbyterians within the PC(USA) adopted in 1988. The Session specifically restates that its activities with respect to this current debate will follow the following five courses of action:

1. We covenant to live in faithfulness to Jesus Christ as He is revealed in Scripture, confirmed by the historic creeds of the Church, and to do ministry that honors Jesus Christ as active and faithful Presbyterians.

2. We covenant to do the work of prayer, asking God to pour out the Holy Spirit on the Church for the advancement of the gospel in the world, that Jesus Christ may be known and glorified.

3. We covenant to do the work of evangelism, that men and women may be brought to saving faith in Jesus Christ, beginning with our own congregations until the Great Commission is fulfilled.

4. We covenant to work for social righteousness according to the biblical vision of the Kingdom of God.

5. We covenant to discern where God is working, with Scripture as our guide, and to invest our financial giving and personal involvement in those works which promote purity, holiness, and truth in the Church and which extend the gospel throughout the world.

The Session wishes for each of you to know that you are all in our constant prayers. We pray that God will bless you and this denomination and cause a mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Church.

Blessings to you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

(September 2001)

Report from Baltimore Presbytery Vote, Sept 2001

Thanks to all who were praying for today. It was a long presbytery meeting (as those of you who were there know, although I outlasted most of you!) and the results were somewhat predictable with Baltimore Presbytery voting in favor of Amendment A to remove the ordination standards in the Book of Order. But there is a bright spot. Compared to the previous 3 votes in the last 5 years on GA Amendments dealing with sexuality, this was the closest vote to date (see my chart at bottom).

This is an nice encouragement for us, and a possibly as yet unknown defeat for the pro-A leaders in Balt Pres. They wanted to be the first presbytery to vote so they could set the standard for the rest of the country. What they have successfully communicated is that the "sure thing" was less convincing than ever before, and that they could have a steeper uphill battle than they thought. Let's pray that this is a trend that continues throughout the denomination, and that it is defeated by the same 2-1 margin as Amendment A in 97/98!

In Christ,
Jerry Cooper
Associate Pastor
Central Presbyterian Church