In Essentials, Uncertainty
Presbyterian Church (USA) erodes ban on gay clergy.
by David E. Anderson, RNS, with reporting by CT
posted 06/28/2006

The Presbyterian Church (USA) voted June 20 to allow local and regional bodies to ordain gays to the church's ministries.

After nearly three hours of debate, delegates voted 298 to 221 to approve a complex proposal that allows local congregations and regional bodies known as presbyteries to bypass the church's current ban on "self-avowed practicing" gay clergy.

Current rules from 1996 that require "fidelity in marriage … and chastity in singleness" will remain on the books, but local bodies can now allow exceptions to those standards. Those exceptions will be subject to review by higher bodies.

The proposal came from a task force that has spent four years studying the issue. "This is not an 'anything goes' proposal," said the Rev. Blair Monie, the task force's chairman. The Rev. Stacy Johnson, a member of the task force, said the report was "not about sexuality but about the church" and how it moves forward in the midst of conflict. the rest