Gay Clergy Bid Gets Little Support So Far
A proposal to allow gay and lesbian clergy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has received little support in early voting.
The proposal was approved in June at a meeting of the church’s General Assembly. So far, however, of the 24 presbyteries, or regional legislatures, that had voted on the measure by November, only two, Baltimore and eastern Oregon, supported the idea. A majority of the 173 regional legislatures would have to ratify the proposal for it to take effect.
The denomination’s constitution requires ministers to live “in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness.” Homosexuals are accepted as church members, however.
The presbyteries will continue voting over the next several months. A similar effort was defeated in 1997.
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