The Presbyterian Church (USA) has been debating the question of the ordination of gays and homosexuals for decades. Its position was that only those who are celibate or in a marriage between a man and a woman could be ordained to any office in the Presbyterian church. Changes to that position have been voted down repeatedly over the years. Now, that has changed. On Tuesday, May 10th, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities voted in favor of Amendment 10A to the Book of Order, which amendment removes any reference to sexual orientation from our denominational standards for ordination and leaves to the presbyteries and local churches the right to determine who they will and will not ordain. (Local churches ordain elders and deacons. Presbyteries ordain clergy.) With its vote the Presbytery of the Twin Cities became the 87th presbytery to vote in favor of Amendment 10A, which means that it has passed the requisite number of presbyteries. Having been approved by the General Assembly in 2010, it now becomes our denomination's law.This is a welcome change. Homosexual individuals and couples have long provided important, faithful leadership in our churches. It is a matter of simple justice that they have the same opportunities of service as ordained leaders available to the rest of us. I have supported this change because its is just and Christ-like. Jesus consistently brought to the center those that others tried to push to the margins. While this decision is going to cost PC(USA) still more members and churches, it is a good thing we have done.
See the news posting, "Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) approves change in ordination standards," at pcusa.org. and a letter to the churches from the Office of the General Assembly for further information and insights. And for the media's treatment of this news story see the posting on CNN.
