The highest body of the Presbyterian Church in America has voted by a large margin in favour of same-sex marriage as Christian, saying marriage is the union of two people, not just man and woman. The amendment was approved on June 19th by the Presbyterian General Assembly and it requires the approval of a majority, which is 172 regional presbyteries. The presbyteries will vote for change during the course of next year.
However, in a separate policy change that took effect on June 21st, delegates voted in favour of ministers presiding over gay marriages within states that allow such unions legally and with the approval of local congregational leaders. Currently, 19 states as well as the District of Columbia allow same-sex marriages to take place.
During a national meeting in Detroit, the overwhelming votes served as a sweeping victory for Presbyterian gay-rights advocates. In 2011, the denomination had done away with barriers to ordain clergymen who had same-sex partners though ministers were still restricted from celebrating same-sex marriages, risking church penalties if they were found to do otherwise.
Alex McNeill, executive director of gay advocacy group More Light Presbyterians said this amendment was the answer to many prayers. Reverend Krystin Granberg from the New York Presbytery said in her state, which allows same-sex marriages to take place she receives requests all the time to preside over weddings of gay and lesbian couples.
“They want to be married in the church they love and they want me to do it… I want pastoral relief,” said Granberg.
However, Bill Norton from Presbytery de Cristo that is in charge of New Mexico and Arizona requested the assembly to delay any hasty decision.
“We are laying hands on something that is holy, that God has given us, so we need to be sure any changes we make are in accord with God’s will revealed in Scripture,” Norton said.Of all the mainstream Protestant denominations, United Church of Christ is the only one that supports same-sex marriages outright. While the Episcopal Church approved a prayer service to bless same-sex unions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America eliminated restrictions for gay clergymen, allowing regional and local church officials to determine their own policies on ordaining and blessing gay couples.
Photo Credit: Dennis Bratland
