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| Attorney Doug Nave offers an analysis
of the voting on Amendment O, noting that 30% of the presbyteries so far
have decided the issue by a margin of 10 votes or less.
[2-12-01]
Friends:
In response to various inquiries, below is a bit more
context for the presbytery voting so far. As reported by Covenant
Network, 25 presbyteries have voted in favor of, and 55 presbyteries
have voted against, ratification of Amendment O. Individual votes are
4339 in favor, 5324 opposed, and 79 abstaining (and there are nine
presbyteries reported without actual vote tallies, six opposed to O and
three in favor of it). The results by percentages are as follows:
 | Vote by presbyteries: 31% in favor, 69% opposed. |
| Vote by individuals: 44% in favor, 55% opposed, 1%
abstaining.
|
While forecasting on the basis of such small numbers
is fairly hazardous, the current voting patterns suggest the following:
| If all of the remaining presbyteries vote
for/against O as they voted on B, O will be defeated by a vote of 87
to 86. The issue will be resolved on April 20, with the vote of the
Presbytery of Alaska.
|
| Comparing the votes so far on O with the 1996
voting on B, proponents of O are seeing a "reversal" rate
of 38%, while opponents of O are seeing a "reversal" rate
of only 5%. If these percentages hold true in the upcoming votes --
a big "if" -- O may be defeated as early as March 10, with
a final vote across all presbyteries of approximately 64-109,
roughly 37% in favor and 63% opposed to the measure.
|
These numbers should not give anyone a false sense of
comfort -- in fact, the outcomes in 30% of the presbyteries so far have
been decided by margins of 10 votes or less. The close votes went in
favor of O eight times and against O sixteen times. It therefore remains
critical to support the voting process by educating and encouraging
people to turn out for their presbytery meetings as much as possible.
Keep the faith!
Doug |
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Visit
our lively
new website! |
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GA actions
ratified (or not) by the presbyteries
A number of the most important actions of the 219th
General Assembly have now been acted upon by the presbyteries,
confirming most of them as amendments to the PC(USA) Book of Order.
We provided resources to help inform the
reflection and debate, along with updates on the voting.
Our three areas of primary interest have been:
|
Amendment 10-A,
which removes the current ban on
lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender persons being considered as
possible candidates for ordination as elder or ministers.
Approved! |
|
Amendment 10-2,
which would add the Belhar Confession to our Book of
Confessions. Disapproved, because as an amendment
to the Book of Confessions it needed a 2/3 vote, and did not
receive that. |
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Amendment
10-1, which adopts the new Form of Government
that was approved by the Assembly. Approved. |
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If you like what
you find here,
we hope you'll help us keep Voices for Justice going ... and
growing!
Please consider making a special
contribution -- large or small -- to help us continue and improve
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Click here to send a
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out to "Presbyterian Voices for Justice" and marked "web site," to
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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