Adventist PUC Constituency Meeting Response

	A special constituency meeting was held Sunday afternoon, August 19, 2012, in Southern California. On the agenda were two votes: 1) to change the bylaws of the Pacific Union, allowing the union to be out of sync with General Conference regulations; 2) to approve ordination to the pastoral ministry without regard to gender. The bylaws vote needed a two-thirds margin to pass. This vote failed by one percent, consequently making an ordination vote irrelevant. The executive committee continued the meeting to "discuss and vote on the ordination issue." Though without teeth, the union voted 79 percent to 21 percent to recommend women's ordination. This ordination vote did pass its 51 percent margin, yet the union still cannot ordain women due to the failed bylaw vote. To do so would put the union out of compliance with its own bylaws which still state: "All the policies, purposes and procedures of this Union shall be in harmony with the working policies and procedures of the North American Division and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists." In conclusion, the union president Ricardo Graham stated, "I do not think this is a 'win'... but we have expressed our opinion through our vote." Click here to read the response from the General Conference officers. Click here to read a feminine perspective on the special constituency meeting.
	Christ or Culture · 34868 Middlecoff Ct. · Beaumont, CA 92223