Below you will find a PDF which you can download that details all of the proposed amendments to the Book of Order including the last one in the document which pertains to same sex marriages being performed by teaching elders/ministers. No surprise that that one has gotten a lot of attention.
The way it works, when the General Assembly votes to approve amending the Book of Order, the item(s) are then sent to the presbyteries throughout the denomination. Each presbytery votes at some point during the following year on each proposed amendment. If a majority of presbyteries approve, the change will be made.
The Presbytery of St. Augustine has set up "town hall meetings" for members to hear about and discuss the proposed amendments. There is one at Countryside Presbyterian on SW Hwy 200, Ocala on January 20th at 4:15pm and again at 6:45pm. There is also one at Kanapaha Presbyterian in Gainesville on January 27th, same times. Meals are closed already for Countryside Pres., but you can RSVP to attend a meal meeting at Kanapaha Pres. (RSVP to Sandra at sandra@staugpres.org or Ray at ray@staugpres.org. The deadline for meal RSVP is January 22. No interest in the meal? Just go!)
The amendment would permit teaching elders/ministers to perform same sex marriages. It does NOT mean that churches must allow them. If the proposal passes, each Session will be making that determination about what happens on its property. Feel free to email me or speak to me if you have any questions. - Bruce
The way it works, when the General Assembly votes to approve amending the Book of Order, the item(s) are then sent to the presbyteries throughout the denomination. Each presbytery votes at some point during the following year on each proposed amendment. If a majority of presbyteries approve, the change will be made.
The Presbytery of St. Augustine has set up "town hall meetings" for members to hear about and discuss the proposed amendments. There is one at Countryside Presbyterian on SW Hwy 200, Ocala on January 20th at 4:15pm and again at 6:45pm. There is also one at Kanapaha Presbyterian in Gainesville on January 27th, same times. Meals are closed already for Countryside Pres., but you can RSVP to attend a meal meeting at Kanapaha Pres. (RSVP to Sandra at sandra@staugpres.org or Ray at ray@staugpres.org. The deadline for meal RSVP is January 22. No interest in the meal? Just go!)
The amendment would permit teaching elders/ministers to perform same sex marriages. It does NOT mean that churches must allow them. If the proposal passes, each Session will be making that determination about what happens on its property. Feel free to email me or speak to me if you have any questions. - Bruce
| 2014-proposed-amendments.pdf |