Presbyterians Vote For Marriage Equality By 3-to-1 Margin

Last week the Presbyterian Church of the United States [PCUSA] voted to allow same-sex weddings to be performed inside their churches, making them on of the largest Christian denominations to allow its entire congregation equality.

And it wasn’t one of those, Oooh, narrow victory kind of voted either; it was passed by a 76% to 24% vote—meaning nearly three times as many members stand for equality as don’t. In addition, naturally, the General Assembly also made it clear that they will take no issue with any pastor in their ranks who chooses to perform a same-sex wedding in states where they are legal, and delegates approved new language about marriage in the church’s Book of Order altering references to “a man and woman” to “two persons.”

Now, to make this queer, the change will not become church law until a majority of the 172 regional presbyteries vote to ratify the new language, but given that this vote was 3-to-1 for approval, it seems approval is expected.

The Presbyterian Lay Committee, which opposes same-sex marriage, urged congregations to launch a financial boycott out of protest:

“The Presbyterian Lay Committee mourns these actions and calls on all Presbyterians to resist and protest them. … You should refuse to fund the General Assembly, your synod, your presbytery and even your local church if those bodies have not explicitly and publicly repudiated these unbiblical actions. … God will not be mocked, and those who substitute their own felt desires for God’s unchangeable Truth will not be found guiltless before a holy God.”

In other words, those folks who believe that everyone is equal both in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of their God, might be going to Hell because they approve same-sex marriage, but my feeling is that if The Gays and The Gay Allies are all going to Hell because we believe in equality, then Hell might be the best party ever!

Congratulations to the PCUSA and let’s hope that, as this vote is spread throughout the churches in this country that the vote for equality stays strong.

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