THE 217^th General Assembly VOTES to Adopt the

“Peace, Unity, and Purity” Task Force Report

Response from the Session, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Tucson, Arizona

Significance of the General Assembly Action

Presbyterian churches are ruled by the Book of Order and the Book of Confessions — the PC (USA) Constitution. The constitution was not changed by the General Assembly adopting the Peace, Unity, and Purity (PUP) report. But the vote does allow individual congregations to circumvent the constitution when they do not agree with its provisions. St. Andrew’s policies will not change — we support the constitution.

Background

In 1997, the General Assembly reinforced a constitutional ordination “requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness.” The constitution remains unchanged by the General Assembly vote. However, recommendation #5 of the PUP report will allow local churches to bypass the “fidelity and chastity” constitutional requirement, thus altering a time-honored standard for the ordination of church leaders: Elders, Deacons, and Ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church affirms the three historic truths of faith:

• The Lordship of Jesus Christ;
• The Bible as the inspired Word of God; and,
• The Sanctity of marriage between man and woman, or chastity in singleness.

In keeping with these truths, we believe that leadership must be held to a higher standard. Therefore, St. Andrew’s session, the governing board of the church, stands opposed to the intention of recommendation #5, and seeks to reaffirm that constitutional standards (including the fidelity and chastity clause) cannot be disregarded. The General Assembly’s adoption of the PUP report will not alter our policies at St. Andrew’s.

Even though we hold leadership to a higher standard, St. Andrew’s welcomes all who seek to learn about Christ, grow in faith, and understand God’s Word, will, and purpose in their lives. We are a family of God and welcome others to discover Him and the joy of fellowship, friendship, and spiritual growth, as together we seek “to know God and to make God known through lives transformed by Christ.”