Case Study 1 – Calvary Presbytery & the Committee of Review of Presbytery Records
At the 47th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Committee of Review of Presbytery Records took up an ongoing issue between the Committee and Calvary Presbytery. In short, the Committee had since 2017 found Calvary Presbytery to be in error regarding the handling of ministers with certain exceptions to the doctrinal standards of the PCA, the Westminster Standards (as adopted by the Church).
In 2019, the Committee did not change its position that Calvary Presbytery was in error. Thus, the Committee determined that Calvary Presbytery’s response to its correction was in fact, unsatisfactory. The Assembly as a whole adopted the Committee’s recommendation (VI.4) by a vote of 606-499 (Minutes, 29).
After the votes were tallied, TE Fred Greco (Houston Metro Presbytery) “requested that his negative vote on Recommendation VI. 4 be recorded” (Minutes, 29). He was joined by 95 other commissioners who likewise requested that their negative votes be recorded (Minutes, 29-31). This action (Recorded Negative Vote) is effectively a mere Dissent (i.e., a Dissent without stated rationale).
This occasion in the life of our church provides us with a useful case study of a recorded negative vote at the General Assembly level. In order to understand the full context and developments around the recorded negative vote itself, it is necessary to go over the issue as it developed from 2017 through 2019. To further research the matter, please refer to the Minutes of the 46th General Assembly (366-370) and the Minutes of the 47th General Assembly (449-452).
Case Study 2 – Human Sexuality and Overtures 23 & 37 at PCAGA48
At the 48th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), the Assembly’s Overtures Committee painstakingly worked up two proposed amendments to the Book of Church Order (BCO) for the Assembly’s consideration. Both proposals dealt with a hot button issue present both in and around the Church: homosexuality and the application of biblical sexual ethics in the examination (and potential qualifications) of candidates for church office. For more information, consult Watching the Amendment Process in 2022.
The Assembly overwhelmingly passed both proposals as presented by the Overtures Committee. The first proposal (Overture 23) passed by a vote of 1438-417, with 77.5% of the Assembly voting in favor of the motion. The second proposal (Overture 37) passed by a vote of 1349-443, with 75.3% of the Assembly voting in favor of the motion. Remarkably, commissioners recorded negative votes on both motions.
After the votes were tallied for Overture 23, TE Mike Khandjian (Chesapeake Presbytery) “requested that his negative vote be recorded” (Minutes, 86). He was joined by 136 other commissioners who likewise requested that their negative votes be recorded (Minutes, 86-89). This action (Recorded Negative Vote) is effectively a mere Dissent (i.e., a Dissent without stated rationale).
After the votes were tallied for Overture 37, 207 commissioners recorded their negative votes (Minutes, 91-96). For whatever reason, the Minutes of the 48th General Assembly do not indicate the name of the commissioner who initially requested that the negative vote be recorded.
This recent occasion in the life of our church provides us with a useful case study of two negative votes recorded in rapid succession at the General Assembly level. To further research the matter, please refer to the Minutes of the 48th General Assembly (85-96).