Permanent Judicial Commission upholds fidelity and chastity!

The Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly is to be praised. In a ruling just released, the GAPJC ruled that the authoritative interpretation adopted at the past General Assembly DID NOT apply to the fidelity and chastity portion of the Book of Order! They ruled that since the entire church adopted G-6.0106b that the only way to change this section is by changing the denomination’s constitution. “Until that occurs, individual candidates, officers, examining and governing bodies must adhere to it.” (I have added the bold text)

The entire decision can be found at: http://www.pcusa.org/gapjc/decisions/pjc21810.pdf

The pertinent quote is:

Accordingly that portion of SPJC decision that stated: “no presbytery may grant an

exception to any mandatory church wide behavioral ordination standard,” was correct.

We agree with the SPJC that, “Under our polity, violations of behavioral standards are to

be addressed through repentance and reconciliation, not by exception or exemption. The

freedom of conscience granted in G-6.0108 allows candidates to express disagreement

with the wording or meaning of provisions of the constitution, but does not permit

disobedience to those behavioral standards.” The fidelity and chastity provision may only

be changed by a constitutional amendment. Until that occurs, individual candidates,

officers, examining and governing bodies must adhere to it.

PRAISE BE TO GOD!!

(Note: sorry that the formatting on the quote is so poor. I have tried and tried to fix it--with no luck.)