After a years-long debate, gays and lesbians in same-sex relationships are now eligible to become ministers in the Presbyterian Church (U. S.A.).
A Minnesota presbytery last week became the 87th in the nation to approve the removal of the Presbyterian Church’s policy that barred non-celibate gays and lesbians in same-sex relationships from ordination.
The national governing body of the church last summer approved Amendment 10-A, which would lift the policy, but it required an affirmative vote from a majority of its 173 presbyteries.
In March, the Presbytery of Philadelphia approved the amendment 182-108.
The final presbytery will cast its vote June 28.
Michael Adee, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, which has been working for the passage of Amendment 10-A, welcomed the news last week after the Twin Cities Presbytery voted in favor of the measure 205-56.
“It is necessary and absolutely OK to celebrate this moment in the life and witness of our Church, the end of categorical discrimination against God’s LGBT children, which was wrong in the first place,” Adee said. “What a journey this work for justice and equality has been. The thousands of prayers, faithful conversations, sharing of hopes and dreams are all part of building a church that reflects God’s heart and a world that respects all persons.”
The previous language required that those called to ordination must “live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.”
The new measure replaces that stipulation with one that describes that ordination is contingent upon one’s “ability and commitment” to fulfill ministerial responsibilities, with no reference to martial status.
The change will officially go into effect July 10.
The policy change was put to a vote in 2008-09 but failed. This latest vote resulted in 20 presbyteries changing from “no” to “yes” votes, including the Presbytery of Donegal, which includes York, Lancaster and Chester counties.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].