By John P. Connolly, The Bulletin
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is voting to decide whether or not gay ministers should be allowed to serve and whether or not single ministers should be bound to practice chastity.
Pittsburgh Presbytery voted 206-105 this weekend against the proposed amendment, which would also require church officers to practice fidelity in heterosexual marriage. So far, 43 other presbyteries have voted in favor of the measure and 72 voted against, according to an unofficial tally on the Web site of the Presbyterian Coalition, a group opposed to the amendment. The last count by the Presbyterian News Service had the count at 42 to 69 last week. Over 87 presbyteries must pass the amendment in order for it to become church law.
The vote is not the first time the Presbyterian Church has discussed the issue. The current vote is the third time in the last 30 years that gay ministers have been voted on by the denomination, with the last vote having been held in 2002.
A General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage is set to hold its first meeting next week. The committee will convene tomorrow morning and work through Thursday. The assembly will make policy recommendations on various topics, including civil unions, Christian marriage, the effects of gay couples on children they may raise, and the place of same-sex couples in the Christian community.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us
Monday, March 16, 2009
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is voting to decide whether or not gay ministers should be allowed to serve and whether or not single ministers should be bound to practice chastity.
Pittsburgh Presbytery voted 206-105 this weekend against the proposed amendment, which would also require church officers to practice fidelity in heterosexual marriage. So far, 43 other presbyteries have voted in favor of the measure and 72 voted against, according to an unofficial tally on the Web site of the Presbyterian Coalition, a group opposed to the amendment. The last count by the Presbyterian News Service had the count at 42 to 69 last week. Over 87 presbyteries must pass the amendment in order for it to become church law.
The vote is not the first time the Presbyterian Church has discussed the issue. The current vote is the third time in the last 30 years that gay ministers have been voted on by the denomination, with the last vote having been held in 2002.
A General Assembly Special Committee to Study Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage is set to hold its first meeting next week. The committee will convene tomorrow morning and work through Thursday. The assembly will make policy recommendations on various topics, including civil unions, Christian marriage, the effects of gay couples on children they may raise, and the place of same-sex couples in the Christian community.
John P. Connolly can be reached at jconnolly@thebulletin.us
I failed to include a link to More Light Presbyterians, the LGBT voice of the Presbyterian Church. Go to www.mlp.org for more information.
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