Doug Nave warns that voting on
Amendment O still needs attention
[12-28-00]
Presbytery consideration of proposed Amendment O --
which would prohibit the blessing of same-sex unions -- is just gearing
up, and the votes so far (like spring's baseball standings) don't say
much so early in the game. However, lest we get at all
complacent about the 6-12 vote against adoption so far, here are a
couple of sobering thoughts:
Of the eighteen presbyteries that have voted so far,
all of them have voted the same way on O as they did on B. If that
pattern holds (obviously a big "if"), O passes.
Two of the presbyteries voting not to ratify O did so
either with a tie vote (Western Kentucky, voting 23-23) or a two-vote
majority (Minnesota Valley, voting 49-51). Every vote counts.
The popular vote is closer than the presbytery tally
would suggest: In the sixteen presbyteries reporting their actual votes
(rather than the results of voice voting), O failed by a margin of only
52-48% (1030 against, 947 for). We really need to be networking with
everyone we know, even if we're not part of any "official"
organizing drive in many of the presbyteries, to help people understand
the issues and get out the vote.
Peace and joy (and gratitude, as always, to everyone out there working
for a church as inclusive as God's grace) -- Doug
