 March 28. Three more Presbyteries approved the 218th General Assembly's Ordination Amendment 08-B including 2 more presbyteries flipping from opposition in 2001-2 to approval today.
The presbyteries of Western New York, Grace Presbytery (northeast Texas), and Philadelphia voted YES today on 08-B. While Western New York is a traditionally supportive presbytery, Grace and Philadelphia presbyteries became the 24th and 25th presbyteries to flip. Western New York took "No Action" in 2001-2, so this presbytery could indeed be considered the "third flip" of the day. We are working to verify the official votes in each presbytery, and the counts reported so far are:
Grace Presbytery: 202 YES, 183 NO, with 6 abstentions.
Philadelphia Presbytery: 152 YES, 139 NO.
Special thanks to all those working to end discrimination against LGBT Presbyterians and their families now in these 3 presbyteries in Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York. We are particularly grateful for Betsy Winters and Jane Loflin, First Presbyterian Church,
Dallas; Chris Purdom, Chris Paige, Rev. Patricia Pearce, Tabernacle United Church, Philadelphia, a More Light Church; Rev. Elena Delgado, Peter McNally and the WNY MLP Chapter, and Rev. Tom Yorty, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, a More Light Church, for your outreach with your church and presbytery; with Rev. Debra Peevey and Sonnie Swentson for offering educational resources and information on Amendment 08-B You are an inspiration.
The 25 Presbyteries that have flipped from "NO" in 2001-2 to "YES" in 2009 so far include: Western North Carolina, Lake Huron, East Tennessee, Cimarron, Southeastern Illinois, Charlotte, Maumee Valley, Great Rivers, Scioto Valley, Sheppards & Lapsley, Tres Rios, New Hope, Greater Atlanta, Ohio Valley, Arkansas, Yellowstone, Whitewater Valley, Transylvania, Eastminster, West Jersey, Mackinac, Newark, West Virginia, Philadelphia and Grace.
We want to alert all of you working in local presbyteries to pass 08-B to prepared for any of the "No Action" efforts in your presbytery and be ready to address them.
Some opponents of Amendment 08-B are saying that when 08-B passes, then pastors who vote against 08-B, oppose LGBT ordination or the ministry offered by LGBT Presbyterians, would not be allowed to serve which is simply not true.
Thanks be to God for the Presbyteries of Grace, Philadelphia and Western New York for taking a stand for justice and calling for the end of discrimination in our Church. Together We are building a Church for all God's people.
59 Presbyteries have voted for Amendment 08-B with many traditionally-supportive presbyteries yet to vote. Have Faith. Continue praying. Keep working.
with hope and grace,
Michael
PS -- Special thanks to Bruce Hahne, recent National MLP Board Member and Elder, First Presbyterian Church, Palo Alto, CA, a More Light Church for number-crunching and analysis of trends so far for Amendment 08-B -- go to http://yeson08b.blogspot.com/
Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer
Answering God's Call to Serve! YES on 08-B Campaign
For resources, stories, presbytery vote tally, and news from More Light Presbyterians
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