As did Californians, Presbyterians face issue of same-sex unions
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, March 8, 2000
Presbyterians watched with interest as California decided on March 7 that marriage is between a man and woman – only.
Presbyterian attention in the referendum was piqued by an appeal of a church court decision saying nothing prohibited ministers in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from performing “same-sex holy unions” and overtures to the 2000 General Assembly calling for a ban on the ceremonies.
Californians voted on what is known as Proposition 22. By nearly 2-1, they amended the state’s Family Code to say “only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.”
Most Presbyterians congregations and pastors maintained a relatively low-profile during the heated campaign on Proposition 22. However, First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto hosted an election-eve rally opposing Proposition 22. Lesbian activist Janie Spahr, who was ordained a Presbyterian minister before the PCUSA constitution prohibited the ordination of self-affirming gays, was the speaker at the rally.
A similar public debate is under way in Vermont, where the state’s Supreme Court ruled that the exclusion of gay and lesbian couples from the rights and benefits of marriage is unconstitutional.
The Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly, the PCUSA’s highest court, is expected to hear arguments soon in the appeal of a synod court’s decision allowing same-sex holy unions. The synod court said the Book of Order does not explicitly prohibit same-same unions.
An overture by the Presbytery of Tampa Bay calls for a national referendum to make that prohibition explicit through three changes in the Book of Order. Two more overtures would also prohibit same-sex unions.