Proactive Presbyteries Enforcing the Constitution:

A number of presbyteries in the PC(USA) have passed resolutions stating their intent to enforce the Constitution of our denomination by refusing to ordain or receive anyone into the presbytery who cannot affirm the "Fidelity and chastity" clause in the Form of Government of the Book of Order.  Other presbyteries are still considering taking such a stand.

 

When the General Assembly approved the PUP report from the Task force last year, we were assured that nothing has really changed, that the General Assembly was simply giving back to the presbyteries the responsibility they should rightfully exercise.  However, now that some presbyteries are choosing to exercise this responsibility in a way not to the liking of some within the denomination, challenges are taking place.

 

The presbyteries simply want to state that they intend to abide by the Constitution and deny ordination to any who cannot affirm a requirement that is part of the Book of Order.  Of course, this does not promote the gay agenda, and it does not require a case-by-case analysis; so it doesn't sit too well with certain elements of the denomination.

So here we have the rather odd spectacle of the General Assembly encouraging presbyteries to enforce the Constitution on the one hand and yet being challenged when they try to do it on the other.  The General Assembly may have permitted presbyteries to grant more leeway to homosexuals and others not living in accord with the Book of Order; but they didn't require it.