Committee backs overture opposing same-sex unions
The Layman Online, June 28, 2000
LONG BEACH, Calif. — The Committee on Health and Spiritual Well-Being of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has approved an overture that would prohibit Presbyterian pastors from blessing homosexuals who live together. The final decision will be made by the full General Assembly later this week.
The committee vote was 25-22 in favor of Overture 26 from the Presbytery of San Joaquin. The overture would add a section to the Directory for Worship (part of the Book of Order) prohibiting ministers from conducting same-sex union ceremonies.
In May, the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly, the highest court in the PCUSA, ruled that sessions could authorize ministers to conduct the services in local churches. The San Joaquin overture was one of three submitted to the 212th General Assembly asking that the same-sex ceremonies be outlawed.