Good News: The General Assembly approved sending a revision of G-6.0106b to the presbyteries. 53% to 46%.
Bad News: The General Assembly punted on addressing the issue of marriage or of clergy being allowed to perform at same-gender weddings in states where same-gender marriages are legal. 51% to 49%.
I grudgingly have to credit a parliamentary move by the opposition to catch the tired commissioners off guard. After the assembly approved both the majority and minority reports of the marriage committee, a commissioner moved that the rest of the reports of the committee be answered simply by accepting the report of the marriage committee. The YAADs weren't tired. They voted no on that nonsense 70-30, but it was past bedtime for the rest of our graying church. They voted to tuck it in early and fight it out again in two years.
In other words, the assembly did not even hear the other actions of the committee. Crazy stuff.
It will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow and if the recommendations from the committee to the assembly can be revisited.
Tough day on all of us John. Church lost big time.
ReplyDeleteThe confusion during that last vote was embarrassing and enlightening at the same time. It reminded me about what Elijah said regarding people limping from their left to their right foot...
Sadly, motion to reconsider was also defeated this morning.
ReplyDeleteEvery time I think I have this GA figured out I get surprised. It seems to me that if the PCUSA is going to ordain gays and lesbians in exclusive partnerships it would first want them to get married. If a member of an unmarried heterosexual couple sought ordination, at least as a MWS I am fairly sure presbyteries would say no. So why ordain but refuse marriage? This makes no sense at all.
ReplyDeletePrejudice doesn't make sense that is for sure.
ReplyDeleteI would have no problem with the a member of an unmarried heterosexual couple being ordained. I have seen many of them over the years. Good, moral people. I may be jaded, but some of the language used in the overtures, such as marriage being a gift from or mystery of God, makes me nauseous. As a gay man who lives with his partner of 31 years, I have no interest whatsoever in marriage.
ReplyDeleteThough the vote is disappointing, the YAAD vote tells us where we'll be in a few years. Demographics always wins and the BFTSs aren't getting any younger.
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