June 4, 2001

Presbyterians overturn ban on same-sex ceremonies
___LOUISVILLE, Ky. (RNS)--A proposed rule that would bar ministers in the Presbyterian Church (USA) from performing same-sex union ceremonies has been defeated by the denomination's presbyteries, or regional bodies.
___It is the second time in seven years the church has rejected the effort to place an ironclad ban on same-sex unions in the church's Book of Order, its constitution.
___The proposed amendment was approved by a narrow margin at the denomination's General Assembly last June but required ratification by a majority of the church's 173 presbyteries to become church law. The presbyteries have been meeting over the last several weeks.
___Recently, four presbyteries voted not to ratify the proposed amendment, giving opponents the 87 votes they needed to defeat the measure.
___"Most Presbyterians do not approve of same-sex unions," said Joe Rightmyer, executive director of Presbyterians for Renewal, a group that opposes same-sex unions and had campaigned for approval of the ban. "However, sufficient numbers of voters who believe same-sex unions should be prohibited found elements of this amendment as problematic, and consequently voted against it."
___The proposed ban would have added language to the Book of Order saying that the Bible and the denomination's confessions "teach that God's intention for all people is to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or in chastity in singleness."
___The proposal also said that "church property shall not be used for, and church officers shall not take part in conducting, any ceremony or event that pronounces blessing or gives approval of the church or invokes the blessing of God upon any relationship that is inconsistent with God's intention."
___An internal church survey shows most pastors and church members oppose blessing same-sex unions.
___ The survey, part of an ongoing internal research project sponsored by the church, found that 57 percent of church members and 50 percent of pastors oppose blessing same-sex unions. In addition, 61 percent of church elders and 30 percent of specialized clergy oppose the blessing.

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