The Presbyetarian USA denomination may approve of gay marriage

[bluestateguy]

Looks like it will be a close call.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/presbyterian-panel-marriage-is-between-two-people-643224/

A committee of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted Tuesday night to recommend that its national governing body change the church constitution on marriage to say it is between "two people" rather than "a woman and a man."

If the change is adopted by the wider church, it would allow pastors in states where gay marriage is legal to conduct marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples.

The 28-24 vote came after the committee had rejected other measures that both supported and opposed gay marriage, but had called for a two-year study on the matter. If this week's 800-member General Assembly, meeting at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown, passes this proposed amendment, it will have to be approved by a majority of 173 presbyteries to become church law.

The committee meeting lasted two days and was filled with stories of anguish both from pastors who wanted to marry gay couples and those who had already experienced the pain of church splits over such issues.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/region/presbyterian-panel-marriage-is-between-two-people-643224/#ixzz1zhfhy72y

[SoutherDem]

1. I use to belong to a PCUSA church

Last year they were given permission to do commitment ceremonies if the individual church wished. The church I belonged to said no.

[bluestateguy]

3. It looks like they will lose some congregations if they vote yes

and some conservative congregations have already left because of the national church's leftward lurch.

Only the United Church of Christ is a more liberal denomination on LGBT issues.

[AJTheMan]

7. I thought the Episcopal Church (PECUSA) was more liberal about it...

I used to belong to an Episcopal Church and they seemed very progressive. I was baptized Episcopalian.

[undeterred]

5. I heard of an older couple who had a commitment ceremony at their Methodist Church reccently.

They had both been married to other people for many years and raised families. They wanted to be together as a committed couple but didn't want to marry again for financial reasons. So the Church used the same kind of ceremony they'd used for same sex couples.

Being inclusive of gay relationships opened doors for that Church.

[Firebrand Gary]

6. We belonged to a PCUSA Church that did the same thing.

So we left and found a PCUSA Church in downtown Sacramento that we like much better anyhow. They are a wonderful congregation with lots and lots of diverse families.

[Ilsa]

2. Any church within the presbyteries that joined

PCUSA within the last few years may have a change of heart about remaining, unfortunately. Some of those churches are too conservative to stay on with PCUSA if they still have time to dissociate themselves.

I hope all of them choose to stay, though, and be a part of the progressive church.

[xchrom]

4. Du rec. Nt