Page "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)" Paragraph 115

In the General Assembly gathering of June 2006, Presbyterian voting Commissioners passed an " authoritative interpretation ", recommended by the Theological Task Force, of the Book of Order ( the church constitution ).

Some argued that this gave presbyteries the " local option " of ordaining or not ordaining anyone based on a particular presbytery's reading of the constitutional statute.

Others argued that presbyteries have always had this responsibility and that this new ruling did not change but only clarified that responsibility.

On June 20, 2006, the General Assembly voted 298 to 221 ( or 57 % to 43 %) to approve such interpretation.

In that same session on June 20, the General Assembly also voted 405 to 92 ( with 4 abstentions ) to uphold the constitutional standard for ordination requiring fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness.

A clear understanding of the effect of what the General Assembly voted upon in 2006 may have to wait until the ecclesiastical courts make decisions on specific cases.