Presbyterian Vote Falls Short After Promising Progress

In a close vote on an issue that has long divided mainline Protestant churches, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted on Friday against changing the definition of marriage in its constitution from a union between “a man and a woman” to a union between “two people.” Earlier this week, Integrity USA's sister organization, More Light Presbyterians, reported that their work had borne fruit in a first-time committee passage of this change in definition.

"We were pleased on Tuesday to learn of the progress toward marriage equality that was happening with our Presbyterian brothers and sisters, and join them today in their sadness to learn that their hopes weren't realized just yet," said Integrity USA's VP for National Affairs, the Rev. Jon M. Richardson.  "At Integrity USA we know the long and sometimes painful journey that it can be toward realizing the full and equal claim that we are promised at baptism.

"In the Episcopal Church we have been on this journey for more than 35 years; we have learned and come to believe that the arc of history is long, but that it bends toward justice.  While the disappointment that our colleagues at More Light Presbyterians face is all too familiar, we pledge to redouble our efforts at the 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church to make marriage equality a reality."