By Peter Smith / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is on track to rewrite the definition of marriage in its constitution by allowing it to include same-sex couples.
More than 40 percent of presbyteries, or regional governing bodies, have voted on the change as of Friday. While there’s no official count yet, advocacy groups on both sides put the vote at 51 presbyteries in favor of allowing gay marriage and 23 against. [As of 2/23/15, the vote is 61-23] Voting continues into the spring, with a majority of the 172 presbyteries needed for ratification.
The presbyteries are voting on a constitutional change endorsed in June by the denomination’s General Assembly in Detroit. It would define marriage as a “unique commitment between two people” rather than specifically between a “man and a woman.”
While some denominations allow for same-sex unions or local discretion in responding to requests for same-sex weddings, the Louisville, Ky.-based Presbyterian Church (USA) would become the largest to write the change into its governing documents.
The effect would be somewhat anti-climactic in states such as Pennsylvania, because the Detroit assembly also authorized pastors to preside at same-sex weddings in jurisdictions where they are legal. That measure didn’t require presbytery ratification.
Both measures also give pastors and churches the option not to participate in same-sex marriages.
The vote especially reverberates in the Tri-State area with its significant concentration of Presbyterians. More than 87,000 people are members of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in seven presbyteries in and around Pittsburgh.
The Pittsburgh Presbytery hasn’t voted yet, but several area presbyteries have voted against redefining marriage, including Beaver-Butler, Shenango, Kiskiminetas and Redstone in Pennsylvania as well as Upper Ohio Valley in West Virginia and Ohio. Results are mixed elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
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I really fail to see the “news” or newsworthy is this reporting. Math and metrics of the current state of the PCUSA is that after 30 or so years of evangelical flight, feeling, dropping out, what have you. The PCUSA of 2015 is far, far less diverse, more homogenous, more monolithic in its politics and ideology. Of course the votes and number reflect the wishes of those left in the dying caracas. Was anybody else, expecting any different, Carmen?
In terms of demographic trends the PCUSA is well on the way of becoming the Quakers of the 21st century, an odd, idiosyncratic, very insular sect in its dealings. With national numbers settling around 600-700K when all said and done, much like the Quakers and Unitarians now. Racially very old, white and regionalized to the NE and NW. On the path to irrelevancy and history, much like the old stone meeting houses that line eastern Pa.
Another way to look the process and votes of the PCUSA is the process of institutional and theological suicide. They have lost faith not only in God or Christ, but themselves as well. They have given up, surrendered to the culture, and in a theological sense, lined up for the cool- aid. Drink well PCUSA, you have your reward in full.
So far, 72% of voting presbyteries have voted Yes. Only 29% of remaining presbyteries must vote Yes in order for 14-F to pass. It is not even close; it’s a landslide. If this does not cause a schism (in the form of orthodox Presbyterians departing en masse), then nothing will. And I predict it will not; membership will take a big hit, but not a crippling one. There are many conservative Presbyterians who know the war is over and they’ve lost, but who are going to stay anyway.
We it looks like the louisville sluggers are going to win in their battle for the last 20+ years of slowly chipping away at 2000 years of tradional Christian marriage.
I know that our very, very humble stated clerk will be gracious in his victory tour as he goes from presbytery to presbytery, wearing his finest pumps and pillbox hats firmly grasping the book of order(dog eared to trust clause page that louisville uses for their devotionals)in one hand, and saluting us all with his driving finger with the other, letting us all know who’s in charge of marriage now, and no it’s not God.
If it written into the book of order and the church is located in a state where same sex marriages are legal, I don’t see how a local church can refuse a same sex wedding without being subjected to a discrimination lawsuit especially if they church allows non-members to get married at the church. I don’t think PC-USA is being honest with its members that each individual church can decide. I don’t see that as legally prudent and predict PC-USA leadership will reverse that option once they change the book of order.
You simply do not understand. If the local church does not want to do a same sex wedding, it can deny doing one.. That is the point of the overture. Do your homework, read the overture and get a clue. Good grief.