Presbyterians Allow Gay Clergy, Shelve Marriage!

As reported yesterday, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was set to become the first and largest U.S. Christian denomination to permit same-sex marriage in it’s entirety if leaders of the Church were to vote in favor of complying with a committee recommendation to do so at their national convention being held in Minneapolis.

The general assembly was also set to vote on a separate measure that would approve lifting the church’s ban on non-celibate gay and lesbian clergy. If the delegates approved both measures, it would have made the denomination one of the most LGBT friendly churches in the U.S.

However, yesterday came and went and although we saw some progress, we also saw the church stand in stagnant water on one of the issues.

Delegates to the Presbyterian church’s convention did vote in favor of allowing openly gay clergy in committed relationships serve their congregations, but failed to move on the decision to allow same-sex couples to wed in their churches.

But the delegates didn’t exactly vote to close the issue of same-sex marriages, but rather voted to shelve the proposal to be considered at another time. This action means the issue will be revisited again, but not for two years unless, as according to various reports, by a very small chance, one of the delegates who voted to shelve the matter decides to make a motion to reconsider it today. It remains unclear as to whether or not supporters of marriage equality amongst the delegates have enough votes to approve another debate on the issue.