Amendment O Resources
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Amendment O Resources |
Every presbytery will be voting on this proposed amendment to the constitution.
Here is come commentary and background.
The 212th General Assembly voted 268-251 to send an amendment of the *Book of Order* (W-4.9000) to the presbyteries for a vote. The proponents of the original overtures intended to ban same- sex unions. What we have instead is a prohibition amendment that is profoundly un-Presbyterian. If adopted, a wide range of ceremonies and events would be prohibited for pastors and local churches.
This amendment is "irregular and extraordinary." That's what the General Assembly's Advisory Committee on the Constitution (ACC) said when similar amendments were considered in 1993 and 1995.
"It is highly irregular and extraordinary" for the *Book of Order* to forbid a minister of the Word and Sacrament from certain activities .... It is equally irregular and extraordinary for the *Book of Order* (G-10.0102) to mandate or forbid what a session can or cannot do with the congregation's facilities ....
Freedom of conscience and freedom of ministry are as Presbyterian as decency and good order. The *Book of Order* grants permission; it does not forbid actions in ministry.
Ministers and sessions vow to serve their people with energy, intelligence, imagination and love. Our tradition is to trust ministers, elders and deacons to determine how best to serve their congregations and communities. This is a daunting yet joyful trust when ministering to single parents, widows and widowers, young heterosexual couples, gay and lesbian couples, victims of rape and abuse, physically and mentally challenged adults, and those who are dying. Complex relationship matters often arise in these and other pastoral care situations.
What Presbyterian Church officers don't need are constitutional provisions to limit our ministries and pastoral care. The *Book of Order* invokes a "rich variety of form, practice, language, nurture and service" (G-4.0401) in fulfillment of our ordination vows.
Jesus was harassed by those who wanted to limit his ministry. Paul was brought to trial in Jerusalem by the "circumcision party." This prohibition amendment is foreign to our tradition of ministry guided by the Holy Spirit and shaped by the great commandment of love.
Every presbytery will vote on the proposed amendment 00-O before the next General Assembly in June 2001 (amendment Oh! for short, or perhaps 00-O, pronounced "uh-O!"). If you value the traditional Presbyterian freedom of church officers to make decisions locally and pastorally, urge your presbytery commissioners to vote "NO" on this "irregular and extraordinary" prohibition.