June 5, 2000
Presbyterian battle over homosexuality still unresolved
___BALTIMORE (RNS)--Tthe highest court of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled May 24 that individual churches and presbyteries have the right to conduct same-sex union ceremonies for gay couples, as long as the church does not equate such ceremonies with Christian marriage in either a spiritual or a legal sense.
___While the decision does not carry the weight of church law and largely maintains the church's informal policy, the ruling nonetheless dramatically alters the dynamics of the debate as the church prepares for its annual meeting this month.
___The church's Permanent Judicial Council met in Baltimore May 19 to hear three challenges to the church's positions on homosexuality.
___In one case, the court agreed with a New York group of churches that because the denomination's Book of Order does not explicitly prohibit same-sex unions, churches are free to conduct them.
___In a second case, the church agreed to let a gay New Jersey seminarian continue with his studies, saying the church's ban on gay clergy applies to ordained ministers, not clergy candidates.
___The court delayed a decision on whether a Vermont church can openly defy churchwide standards for church leaders that call for "fidelity in marriage and chastity in singleness." A decision on that case is expected in July.
___The ruling comes at a crucial moment for the 2.5-million-member church as it prepares for its annual General Assembly meeting in Long Beach, Calif., June 24-July 1. Delegates will be asked to vote on whether the church should issue a blanket prohibition against the blessing of same-sex union ceremonies.
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