The top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted by large margins Thursday to recognize same-sex marriage as Christian in the church constitution, adding language that marriage can be the union of "two people," not just "a man and a woman."
The amendment approved by the Presbyterian General Assembly requires approval from a majority of the 172 regional presbyteries, which will vote on the change over the next year. But in a separate policy change that takes effect at the end of this week's meeting, delegates voted to allow ministers to preside at gay weddings in states where the unions are legal and local congregational leaders approve. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia recognize same-sex marriage.
The votes, during a national meeting in Detroit, were a sweeping victory for Presbyterian gay-rights advocates. The denomination in 2011 eliminated barriers to ordaining clergy with same-sex partners, but ministers were still barred from celebrating gay marriages and risked church penalties for doing so. Alex McNeill, executive director of More Light Presbyterians, a gay advocacy group, said the decisions Thursday were "an answer to many prayers."
Oh man, this is going to make conservative's heads explode.
I swear it's almost a shame NOT to be gay in this day and age.
What kills me is how many people seriously do not seem to know that the word EQUALITY does not exist, when only SOME are considered "equal."
ReplyDelete"Oh, yeah...I'm all for equality, alright...as long as it doesn't include all them there fairies and niggrazz."
My stock answer to those who inquire as to why I don't go to church is, "I'm Gay, I'm not allowed to be a Christian."
ReplyDeleteThis answer is short and sweet and is the unspoken truth behind the facade of Jesus as practiced by the "good church goers"..
If mainstream churches actually start to welcome "the Gays" I will need to get more explicit.
There is no way I could ever return to the Christian theology who explains away every natural and man-made disaster as God's wrath against the Gays and those who love them.....
I just read an article in today's Toronto Star about the minister (of the United Church of Canada) who performed Canada's first legal gay marriage in January 2001. Never did I think it would take such a damn long time for the Americans to catch up to Canada on the issue of gay rights. Thank goodness the Puritans never landed on the shores of Nova Scotia.....
ReplyDeleteI am a member of the United Church of Christ. Our Pastor is gay.
ReplyDeleteThe UCC is one of the good guys.
DeleteIn April, it filed a lawsuit against North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage claiming the law violated their freedom of religion.
"The United Church of Christ has recognized gay marriage since 2005. It ordained an openly gay man in 1972."
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/04/28/307793118/united-church-of-christ-challenges-north-carolina-ban-on-gay-marriage
When I got excommunicated, I kind of missed going to church, (old habits die hard) and after being kicked to the curb, I attended Presbyterian services and they seemed a lot more open and accepting than the RCC variety, then I kind of asked myself why was I doing this and decided to drop any connection with organized religion. To me (and it's just my opinion fwiw) they're asking a lot of people and most are restrictive to women and gays. I just can't fathom, among other things, why people believe God doesn't think we're all equal.
ReplyDeleteOT, kind of.
Today, in a "bold move", Pope Francis visited Calabria, a town in southern Italy and spoke sternly and with resolve after a child and her grandfather got caught in the crossfire between two factions of the Mafia, and died.
He met with the family, hopped on his popemobile and before he sped away, he raised both hands and said "IF you're involved in organized crime and killing, you're automatically excommunicated!" No word on what the reply was, but I'm sure they're broken up over this news.
Presbyterian Church USA was the first to develop a doctrine regarding acceptance of homosexuals. This was done about 12-15 years ago, you know, before it was the thing to do.
ReplyDelete