The debate included a total of five speakers.  The makers of the two motions are presenting final arguments.  The Legal Questions convener points out that this is a legal not theological statement.  She mentions the process for writing the Westminster Confession.

The Assembly votes against the counter motion with voting by standing.  It gathered significant support but the vote against was large enough that the moderator did not have to think about it too long but the tone in his voice suggested that he thought he might be challenged.

On to the next counter measure in the name of Mr. Kennedy.  This one addresses when pastors may exercise their personal conscience within the church’s teaching, decisions, and discipline relative to this issue.

The debate has begun and the list of people to speak is so long it has overwhelmed the moderator’s computer screen listing speakers.  The moderator began to suggest that debate be limited to a few speakers and the clerk’s staff and others around him quickly advised him to let the debate run a while.