The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has approved a measure that could allow those in committed same-sex relationships to be ordained as clergy.
The proposed change to the denomination’s polices must still be approved by the church’s 173 presbyteries. In 2009, 94 of the local bodies voted against the change following a similar decision by the 2008 assembly.
Proponents of the measure said the move is a historic step that puts the Presbyterian Church on the right side of history.
The denomination, meeting for its 219th assembly last July, also debated whether to broaden its definition of marriage to include people in same-sex relationships, but the assembly voted to maintain the traditional definition.
Lacy Morris, a delegate to the assembly quoted by the Presbyterian News Service, said the church had to decide which was worse: possible division or failing to do what was right.
“We’re talking about history, but we need to talk about the future,” Morris said, noting that the ordination of women also risked divisions, but had proven to be the right decision. — ENI
