This vote by the Presbyterians shows that gays are slowly winning the war, if you will, and I suspect more denominations will follow suit . The ELCA hopefully being one of them when it votes next year on a new statement on human sexuality, especially now that some of its sister churches in Europe are recognizing gay unions. It truly disgusts me that supposedly Christian people who ignore all kinds of other passages in the Bible continue to cling to a few passages to condemn and discriminate against gays, even as medical research shows more and more that one's sexual orientation is not some simple choice we make. Are these folks really so insecure in their own sexuality/identity that they must have others to look down upon? Thankfully, the younger generation is increasingly ignoring the bigotry of their elders and, in time, religious denominations will need to change or wither away. I know my own children and their freinds strongly disagree with anti-gay churches and will not attend them. Here are some highlights from 365gay.com:
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The denomination's General Assembly, meeting in San Jose, Calif., voted 54 percent to 46 percent Friday to drop the requirement that would-be ministers, deacons and elders live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." The proposed change to the church constitution requires approval from a majority the nation's 173 presbyteries, or regional church bodies - a yearlong process that has proven to be a barrier to similar efforts in the past.
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Of equal importance to advocates on both side of the debate, the assembly also voted to allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination to conscientiously object to the existing standard. Local presbyteries and church councils that approve ordinations would consider such requests on a case-by-case basis. That vote was an "an authoritative interpretation" of the church constitution rather than a change to it, so it goes into effect immediately. The interpretation supersedes a ruling from the church's high court, issued in February, that said there were no exceptions to the so-called "fidelity and chastity" requirement.
Of equal importance to advocates on both side of the debate, the assembly also voted to allow gay and lesbian candidates for ordination to conscientiously object to the existing standard. Local presbyteries and church councils that approve ordinations would consider such requests on a case-by-case basis. That vote was an "an authoritative interpretation" of the church constitution rather than a change to it, so it goes into effect immediately. The interpretation supersedes a ruling from the church's high court, issued in February, that said there were no exceptions to the so-called "fidelity and chastity" requirement.
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Jon Walton, co-moderator of the San Francisco-based Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which advocates a broader role for gays and lesbians, hailed the ordination votes Friday, calling it "a day we've been waiting almost 30 years to see happen." He also expressed hope church members can move forward together.
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