Presbyterian Church rejects gay marriage proposal

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Presbyterian Church rejects gay marriage proposal

By Matt Stroud
PITTSBURGH | Fri Jul 6, 2012 8:06pm EDT

(Reuters) - The U.S. Presbyterian Church on Friday narrowly rejected a proposal by same-sex marriage proponents for a constitutional change that would redefine marriage as a union between "two people," rather than between a woman and a man.

The 338-308 vote followed nearly four hours of heated debate at the Church's General Assembly in Pittsburgh, a biennial gathering to review policy.

The Church, with around 2 million members, currently allows ministers to bless gay unions but prohibits them from solemnizing homosexual civil marriages.

Opponents of the change argued the move would alienate the Church from Presbyterian churches in other countries, while backers said it should be a leader in advocating for the acceptance of same-sex marriage.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/07/us-usa-religion-gaymarriage-idUSBRE86600220120707

[Ilsa]

1. This is very sad, but IMO, predictable.

I was surprised the vote was this close.

[cbayer]

2. I am so sorry to hear this. Maybe next time, if the vote was indeed that narrow.

Also glad that the Episcopalians are real trail blazers at this time. Hopefully they will make it *safer* for other protestant denominations to follow.