The Polity Committee approved POL-01 (the Olympia overture), with amendment.
The committee evaluated the overture carefully, with great thought, and much debate, choosing to divide the original motion and address what the committee saw as two separate issues.
The proposed language in Part A of the overture amends Book of Order F-1.0403’s affirmation of the “rich diversity of the Church’s membership” by adding the following bracketed text: “In Christ, by the power of the Spirit, God unites persons through baptism, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, [gender identity, sexual orientation,] disability, geography, or theological conviction.” This was approved by the committee without an amendment.
Proposed Amendment
Part 1: The Advisory Committee on the Constitution has expressed its aversion to unnecessarily creating lists of requirements and rubrics, and in this present situation, the list affirms the mission of Christ’s Church. Because a list is deemed exhaustive unless it states otherwise, an omission is regarded as exclusionary, not permissive. We believe the witness of scripture and the Constitution testifies to the full inclusion of persons as members of the Church (universal), as noted not only in F-1.0403 but also reiterated in G-1.0302 regarding the church particular: “No person shall be denied membership for any reason not related to profession of faith” (see also the “Confession of Belhar,” The Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.): Part I The Book of Confession (2016), 10.3). A positive affirmation of this principle through constitutional amendment is consistent with this witness.
Part 2: The amendment adds to G-2.0104b additional concepts that shall be the basis for examining those who are to be ordained and/or installed as deacons, ruling elders, and ministers of word and sacrament. The examination must ensure that the candidate can uphold the constitutional questions for their ordered ministry and include, by some means, the Historic Principles of Church Order (F-3.01) and the principles of participation and representation found in F-1.0403. This would mandate that councils (sessions and presbyteries) assess the candidates' commitment to these principles alongside existing requirements when evaluating a candidate ordained and/or installed to an ordered ministry.