|
|
Amendment 01-A Update |
MLP Members, Friends and Allies:
RE: Work toward passage of Amendment 01-A, current status, and resources
November 21, 2001
As you know, presbyteries are considering and voting on Amendment 01-A from September, 2001 though April, 2002. A simple majority, or 87 presbytery votes, will result in passage or rejection of this amendment.
The current vote shows now at 2 Yes and 18 No votes. It is important to recognize that there was a concerted strategy to move "No" votes forward in this process. There are 23 very conservative presbyteries that normally vote on amendments in the spring that are voting on this amendment in the fall. Some believe that this strategy is to short-circuit discussion and prevent education in those presbyteries and/or to create an illusion of momentum and that the Church does not support 01-A.
Some of these presbyteries have even withdrawn their invitation to have the Moderator Jack Rogers attend their presbytery meetings.
So, as the vote stands now, with perhaps one exception, these current 18 "No" votes are not a surprise and not a reason for discouragement.
It is important to note the 60% vote of the 2001 General Assembly in Louisville that affirmed and sent 01-A to our presbyteries for consideration.
It is important to note that God may indeed be "doing a new thing" within the Presbyterian Church. We had it wrong on women, people of color and slavery, and on divorce/remarriage and we made it right. Surely God is calling us to get it right when it comes to an authentic welcome to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by removing the categorical exclusion of G-6.0106b.
For educational resources about Amendment 01-A you can visit any of our progressive organizations' websites: