(UNDATED) The Presbyterian Church (USA) has defeated a move — for the third time in 12 years — that would have allowed partnered gay and lesbian clergy, but gay rights groups cheered what they called a “historic shift” in the number of Presbyterians who supported the measure.
Sixty-nine of the Presbyterians’ 173 presbyteries, or local governing bodies, voted to rescind a church rule that requires clergy to be abide by “fidelity in marriage … or chastity in singleness,” according to the denomination’s news service.
A simple majority of at least 87 votes was needed for passage, but as of Monday (April 27), 88 presbyteries had rejected the measure. The final tally may not be known until June 28, the deadline for presbyteries to turn in their votes.
Delegates to the denomination’s General Assembly — the church’s highest lawmaking body — voted to rescind the ban last summer. But the measure, like all constitutional changes, needed to be ratified by a majority of local presbyteries.
The latest round of voting saw more support for the pro-gay measure than similar battles in the late 1990s and early 2000s; 28 presbyteries changed their votes from 2001 in this latest round, signaling a shift in attitude in favor of gay clergy, according to gay rights groups.
Unexpectedly, some of the presbyteries that changed their votes to support the amendment are in conservative states such as Alabama, Georgia, Texas, and Montana. Two presbyteries that had earlier supported the measure, including San Francisco, reversed their support and this time voted to reject the measure.
“The big story here is that many traditionally conservative areas of the country voted to accept gay clergy and lay officers in the church,” said Tricia Dykers Koenig of the pro-gay Covenant Network of Presbyterians. “Our understanding of what it means to be created in the image of God is broadening.”
Terry Schlossberg, of the conservative Presbyterian Coalition, said “those who wish to change the biblically rooted standard have continually pressed the matter and required repeated votes that have had the same impact each time.”
“It is well past time to acknowledge that the church today, as through its history, knows her mind on this matter, and that it is the mind of Christ,” Schlossberg said.
Like most mainline Protestant churches, the 2.3-million-member PCUSA has struggled for decades to balance biblical injunctions against homosexuality and society’s evolving standards of gay rights.
The “fidelity and chastity” measure has been in place since 1996, when it made explicit the church’s long-held policy barring gay clergy from the pulpit.
The Rev. Janet Edwards, co-moderator of the group More Light Presbyterians, was exonerated by a church court last year after performing a gay marriage and said it is inevitable that the ban will one day be scrapped.
“With more presbyteries than ever acknowledging that our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender brothers and sisters in Christ can also receive God’s call to ministry, I feel that the tide is truly turning,” said Edwards, a descendant of the fiery Puritan preacher Jonathan Edwards.
By Daniel Burke
c. 2009 Religion News Service
Copyright 2009 Religion News Service. All rights reserved. No part of this transmission may be distributed or reproduced without written permission.
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posted April 27, 2009 at 6:03 pm
YEA, I am proud of my denomination. “fidelity in marriage … or chastity in singleness,” remains the benchmark.
posted April 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I commend my brothers and sisters in the PCUSA, but unfortunately this is far from over. Take it from an Episcopalian–there will be vote after vote and calls for dialogue upon dialogue… that is, until the measure passes. Then you better shut your trap and fall in line or get your poor benighted butt out.
I wonder how many of these shifts came in Presbyteries that have lost one or more congregations, or substantial numbers of lay people because of the leftward march of their national church.
posted April 27, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I’m a little proud of it too, cknuck. It’s moving in the right direction.
posted April 27, 2009 at 8:26 pm
It seems it didn’t pass this time, BUT the votes FOR are getting larger. A good note. And to make it even more interesting, Alabama (my old stomping grounds) was one of the ones that voted for it. Seems the state is smarting up.
This will eventually pass…Amen!
posted April 27, 2009 at 9:18 pm
If there ever is such a shift then I will leave the presbytery and give my money else where and so will an army of folk. Then the same split will happen over and over again until there are no churches left. I would never sit by and let a practicing homosexual try to preach the Gospel to me. I would never support that it just does not match up with the Gospel.
posted April 27, 2009 at 10:21 pm
So long as it doesn’t break my bones, or pick my pocket they can do what they want to with their religion.
It would be nice if all religions put a disclaimer on each service that “although we may believe certain things in the confines of our church, let us respect others, and their beliefs when we are not in it”
If they did this I would feel more secure about my pocket, and esp my bones.
“Strength and Happiness”
posted April 27, 2009 at 10:27 pm
pagansister: “And to make it even more interesting, Alabama (my old stomping grounds) was one of the ones that voted for it. Seems the state is smarting up.”
Very true. Although I’m ashamed to admit the Alabama Congress did recently pass a resolution supporting that Miss U.S.A. contestant who whined that she lost because of the mean ol’ queer judges, they’re also in the process of adding sexual orientation (maybe?) to our state’s hate crimes law. And I can tell you with certainty that there are affirming churches in the state (at least two in Montgomery). I don’t know of any Presbyterian ones though.
posted April 28, 2009 at 9:48 am
Anti-homosexuality is not biblical. No prophet, no gospel writer, not even Jesus mentions homosexuality. The OT mentions certain unclean acts and Paul speaks against pederasty and idolatry. The word homosexuality didn’t exist until the 1800s.
If homosexuals cannot serve the Lord then neither can anyone who has been divorced and remarried or is fat (gluttony). Hatred and hypocrisy are killing the church.
posted April 28, 2009 at 10:26 am
“Two presbyteries that had earlier supported the measure, including San Francisco, reversed their support and this time voted to reject the measure.”
What’s up with that? San Francisco? Anyone know?
posted April 28, 2009 at 10:29 am
ck,
I pray over and again that God will open your heart and your mind some day. But until then, you are giving voice to the best way to determine in which church you will be a member. If you don;t like it, don’t join.
I have said it before, and will offer again, there is plenty of room in the UCC for disaffected Presbyterians – and the same is true for anyone, churched or unchurched, to join with us. We believe God’s love is for all people who are on the journey with Christ. Our policy (for the most part – we do have diverse congregations) that rather than block the door closed we will hold the door open.
I still sit back in wonder that entire denomination can crumble because of what some people do between their belly button and their knees! That must truly be the nexus of power for some folks.
posted April 28, 2009 at 11:50 am
Jestrfyl wrote: “I still sit back in wonder that entire denomination can crumble because of what some people do between their belly button and their knees! That must truly be the nexus of power for some folks.”
Jestrfyl, I understand the sentiment, but the truth is that sexuality is one of the most powerful forces in life. It wields both highly creative (and not just procreative, though that is part of it) and destructive powers. So I think it is appropriate to take issues of sexuality very seriously.
It’s for this same reason that I can’t take suggestions that gay folk simply change or stay in the closet or remain celibate very seriously. Those who oppose inclusion of homosexuals need to think more compassionately and creatively than just hoping the issue goes away.
posted April 28, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Mordred08:
Honestly, nothing that happens in Alabama surprises me! At least few of the AL Presbyterians appear coming to their senses.
posted April 28, 2009 at 2:26 pm
OOPS: “…appear to be coming to their senses.
posted April 28, 2009 at 3:28 pm
jest I don’t know to what god you would pray to for that god to open my mind to same sex acceptance but I would advise you not to waste your time the Bible is very clear on relationships and sex and not once does it make having sex with someone of the same sex a acceptable item. God is very clear by His design of humans about what kind of sex is meaningful and productive.
If I were confused in any of these areas perhaps you might have a change to persuade me but I am clear of thought and lead by the Holy Spirit in my choices.
posted May 1, 2009 at 5:16 pm
I trust that if this measure ever passes, having been entertained year after year, that they will entertain a measure to reverse it year after year as well.