Concurrence to Overture 2—From the Presbytery of Newark (with Additional Rationale).
Rationale
G-6.010Gb states that church officers are "to lead a life in obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church". Scripture calls us to be obedient to Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:2) and to truth (1 Peter 1:22). Furthermore, the confessional standards require us to be "led and instructed" by these standards (G-14.0405b3), rather than conform.
In identifying aspects of "the manner of life of church officers that demonstrates the Christian gospel" (G-6.0106a), we are concerned that G-6.0106b singles out sexual practice for special treatment while ignoring other actions which scripture and the confessions consider to be of equal or greater importance. For example: oppression, and injustice toward the poor and hungry (Isaiah 58:1-10), "undue silence in a just cause", "speaking untruth, lying, slandering, backbiting, detracting, talebearing, whispering, scoffing, reviling." (The Larger Catechism 7.254).