Debate on gays headed back to local Presbyterians
___By Kevin Eckstrom
___Religion News Service
___LOUISVILLE, Ky. (RNS)--The Presbyterian Church (USA) may become the largest mainline denomination to allow openly non-celibate gay clergy in its pulpits after delegates voted June 15 to remove a 25-year-old ban on gay pastors.
___Gathered at church headquarters for the annual general assembly meeting, delegates voted 317-208 to remove the ban and send the measure to the church's 173 regional presbyteries for ratification.
___The future of the issue, however, is far from certain. Oftentimes votes in the presbyteries can be sharply different from votes taken by the general assembly. Last year the assembly voted to ban same-sex unions, but that measure was defeated in regional votes.
___Through nearly three hours of emotional debate, delegates signaled a determination not to defer the issue for more study. The 558 voting "commissioners," or delegates, rejected efforts to defer the ban to a new theological task force, as well as a move to simply fine-tune the language in the church's constitution.
___Both sides in the church immediately started planning for votes in the regional presbyteries.
___"The presbyteries will reject it because it's contradictory to Scripture, it's contradictory to the historic teachings of the church and contrary to the will of our churches," said Parker Williamson, editor of the conservative Presbyterian Layman magazine.
___Pro-gay factions pinned their hopes on this year's meeting, sensing both a growing momentum for their cause and a desire for the church to move beyond the perennial gay debate. They said the vote signaled a move of God.
___With the vote now behind them, perhaps the harder job for the church will be trying to mend fences between conservatives and liberals. Conservatives say the church's mission has been hampered, particularly by the divisions.
___The 173 presbyteries will vote on the measure over the next year. All amendments must be ratified or defeated by the time the church meets in Columbus, Ohio, next summer.
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