The 191st General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church (2022) sent the following memorial from Arkansas Presbytery and a Commissioner from Covenant Presbytery to the Joint Committee on Amendments for consideration. To review the Constitutional Amendment process, please see section 11.0 of the Constitution:
WHEREAS the Confession of Faith for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America states in Section 6.17:
6.17 Marriage is between a man and a woman for the mutual benefit of each, their children, and society. While marriage is subject to the appropriate civil law, it is primarily a covenant relationship under God. As such, it symbolizes the relationship of Jesus Christ and the church, and is that human relationship in which love and trust are best known.
WHEREAS the Constitution of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America states the following in Sections 2.61 and 2.73:
2.61 The office of minister of word and sacrament is unique in the life of the church as to responsibility and usefulness. God calls persons and sets them apart for this ministry. The persons who fill this office should be sound in the faith, exemplary in conduct, and competent to perform the duties of the ministry. Persons who become ministers of the word and sacrament are due such respect as belongs to their office, but are not by virtue of their office more holy or righteous than other Christians. They share in the same vocation that belongs to all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel in word and deed. They differ from other Christians only with regard to the office to which they are called, which is their station in life.
2.73 Persons who fill the office of elder may be male or female, young or old. Elders share in the same vocation that belongs to all Christians to be witnesses to the gospel, but the vocation of this office places an additional responsibility of leadership upon them. They should exemplify the gospel by their good character, sound faith, wisdom, maturity of judgment, discretion, conversation, knowledge of the doctrine and government of the church, and competency to perform the duties of the office.
WHEREAS the Constitution has within it the means by which the Presbyteries can decide the direction of doctrine and polity for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. These means are stated clearly in Section 11.0 “Amendments” of the Constitution of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. Section 11.1 through 11.4 are as follows:
11.1 Amendments to the Confession of Faith, Catechism, Constitution, Rules of Discipline, Directory for Worship, and Rules of Order may be proposed to the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church or the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America. If received favorably by either General Assembly, all proposed amendments shall be referred to a Joint Committee on Amendments composed of the five members of the Permanent Committee on Judiciary of each General Assembly for preparation for the two assemblies for action.
11.2 When a proposed amendment to the Confession of Faith, Catechism, Constitution, or Rules of Discipline is presented by the Joint Committee on Amendments to the General Assembly of each church, on recommendation of each assembly the amendment may be transmitted to its presbyteries by three-fourths vote of the members thereof voting thereon, provided there is present and voting not less than 75% of the full membership of the assembly based on the complete representation of all its presbyteries.
11.3 An amendment to the Confession of Faith, Catechism, or Rules of Discipline shall have been adopted when, on its transmission by both assemblies to their presbyteries, a three-fourths majority of the presbyteries of each General Assembly shall have approved it and such approval is declared by each General Assembly to have been given. The vote of a presbytery shall be by simple majority.
11.4 An amendment to the Constitution shall have been adopted:
- For both churches, when a three-fourths majority of the presbyteries of each General Assembly shall have approved it and such approval is declared by each General Assembly to have been given; each presbytery voting by simple majority, and,
- For either church when a three-fourths majority of its presbyteries shall have approved it and such approval is declared by its General Assembly to have been given; each presbytery voting by simple majority. In such instances the amendment shall be identified as applicable to the Constitution of the church adopting it, and the original section to which the amendment was applied shall remain a part of the Constitution of the church rejecting it.
- Presbyteries shall act upon an amendment referred by the General Assembly within the first year of the referral and report their vote no later than the next meeting of the General Assembly after the amendment was transmitted to the presbyteries.
WHEREAS the Constitution instructs all sessions and presbyteries to observe and carry out the injunctions and the decisions of the higher judicatories:
4.5n Observe and carry out the injunctions of the higher judicatories.
5.6h See that the injunctions of the higher judicatories are obeyed.
THEREFORE, Arkansas Presbytery proposes that the following amendment to the Constitution be placed before Presbyteries of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America as directed by Section 11.1 and 11.2 of the Constitution. The Amendment to be placed before the Presbyteries of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America are that the following paragraphs be added to the Constitution as 2.92, 4.2, 6.35, and 7.02 and the numbering of the Sections 2.90, 4.0, 6.30, and 7.0 be renumbered to include their insertion.
2.92 When a person is in a sexual relationship that is outside the boundaries of marriage as described in the Confession of Faith 6.17, then such a situation makes that person ineligible to be ordained to the office of elder.
4.2 When a person is in a sexual relationship that is outside the boundaries of marriage as described in the Confession of Faith 6.17, then such a situation makes that person ineligible to serve as an elder on the session of a church.
6.35 No licentiate shall be ordained that is in a sexual relationship that is outside the boundaries of marriage as described in the Confession of Faith 6.17. Such a situation makes that person ineligible to be ordained as a minister in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
7.02 When a person is in a sexual relationship that is outside the boundaries of marriage as described in the Confession of Faith 6.17, then such a situation makes that person ineligible to serve a church in any of the relationships stated in 7.01.
The memorial was signed by Janie Stamps, Stated Clerk, Arkansas Presbytery
Concerns with Exclusionary Amendments by Welcoming Cumberland Presbyterians (2022)
A grassroots movement of LGBTQIA+ Cumberland Presbyterians and clergy, elders, and laity have expressed concerns over this exclusionary memorial from Arkansas Presbytery, arguing that these amendments are divisive, unnecessary, and dangerous. In this response, the group requests that the General Assembly deny these memorials, emphasizing the importance of respecting the rightful authority of presbytery to ordain who they see fit, practicing tolerance and forbearance towards those they disagree with, and recognizing the value of LGBTQIA+ people as faithful servants of God. The group requests that the General Assembly deny these memorials, as they believe that it is essential to make room for all people in the church, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Japan Presbytery’s Response to the Proposed Amendments to the Constitution (2023)
Japan Presbytery shares their concern about the constitutional amendments referred to the Joint Committee on Amendments by the 191st General Assembly that would exclude LGBTQ+ people from leadership who are in in same-sex relationships. They have stated: “Any resolution that would result in the exclusion of LGBTQ+ people, an important part of the church family, cannot be justified. For, as God’s people, we are called to live beyond differences of race, ethnicity, nationality, language, mental or physical ability, and sexual identity. This diversity enriches our fellowship. We are invited to accept and love one another and live in God’s kingdom.”
