An overture that seeks to prohibit the ordination of elders who experience ongoing same sex attraction (SSA) has met with mixed results in meetings of EPC presbyteries.
As of February 24, four presbyteries had voted to approve the overture creating a constitutional amendment and three presbyteries voted to not approve the overture for 46th General Assembly consideration in June. One presbytery has yet to vote on the overture.
In each presbytery that considered the overture the debate was described as orderly, cordial, and courteous. Those supporting the overture argued that the 46th General Assembly needed the opportunity to vote to prevent the ordination of those currently experiencing same sex attraction. Those voting against generally did not oppose the content of the overture but argued that the EPC should trust the process and honor the “gentleman’s agreement” of the 44th General Assembly. In addition, it was stated that the EPC should wait until the final report of the Ad Interim Committee is filed before making any response.
Alleghenies and the PJC ruling
On November 15, 2025, the Presbytery of the Alleghenies voted to not include on its docket the overture that was submitted by New Albany EPC of Columbus, Ohio. Alleghenies’ action sparked a complaint by five REs of New Albany to the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC). On January 15, 2026, the PJC found that Alleghenies had violated New Albany’s right to overture the General Assembly and directed it to vote on the overture at its February meeting, now scheduled for February 28. The PJC also found that the “gentleman’s agreement” and “opinion and wish” of the 44th General Assembly was “not binding” and “not a constitutional basis for exclusion of an otherwise valid overture.”
Presbyteries approving the overture
The Presbytery of the Pacific Northwest voted 65-28 with three abstentions to approve the overture amending the Constitution on January 30. Debate lasted approximately 45 minutes. The Session of ten churches signed on to the petition from the Session of First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville, Ore., which presented the overture for consideration.
On February 6, New River Presbytery voted 41-33 to approve the constitutional amendment. The overture was presented by Rivermont EPC in Lynchburg, Va.
On February 21, Central Carolinas Presbytery voted to approve the constitutional amendment by a count of 68-39. Seven sessions concurrently presented the overture.
Also on February 21, the Presbytery of Florida and the Caribbean voted 19-11 in favor of the overture. The Session of GracePoint in Plant City, Fla., brought the overture to the presbytery for consideration.
Presbyteries not approving
On January 24, Gulf South Presbytery voted by a 2-to-1 majority to not approve the overture, which had been submitted for consideration by Grace Presbyterian Church of Alexandria, La.
On January 31, Coastal Mid-Atlantic took up the overture to amend the Constitution. It was presented by the Session of Rockville Presbyterian Church of Wadmalaw Island, S.C., and was voted down 40-26.
On February 7, Midwest Presbytery considered the amendment to the Constitution and voted 57-16 to not approve it.
Due to the deadline that all constitutional amendments must be submitted 60 days before the Assembly convenes, these winter meetings are the latest that constitutional amendments may be approved by a presbytery for General Assembly consideration in June. This 60-day deadline is in place to ensure the Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has ample time to consider and evaluate amendments to the Constitution, one of its key responsibilities.
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