Pittsburgh Presbyterian governing body votes to endorse gay marriage

Pittsburgh (AP) — A regional governing body serving Presbyterian congregations has voted to endorse same-sex marriage in church life.

Ministers and elders of the Pittsburgh Presbytery symbolically voted 122-110 in favor of the amendment after a spirited debate, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on Friday. The vote, held Thursday, had no practical impact since the congregation's General Assembly already authorized same-sex church weddings in states where they are allowed by law.

The Rev. Janet Edwards said she supported the measure during the debate partly because it guaranteed ministers and churches would not have to participate in same-sex weddings. Edwards was acquitted in 2008 in a church trial after presiding over a same-sex wedding.

"I know what it is like to have my freedom of conscience challenged," she said. "I did not wish that kind of challenge on anyone else."

In past years the presbytery voted against ordaining non-celibate gays or blessing their relationships, and several churches left the presbytery because of a trend of liberal moves.

"I believe we must welcome all people into the church of Jesus Christ," said the Rev. Catherine Purves, of Bellevue (PA) United Presbyterian Church. "What is at issue here is not the pros and cons of homosexual behavior but the nature of the covenant of marriage. ... I'm not convinced we can reinvent it in order to come into line with current cultural values and practices."

The question now is how they will coexist, she said.

The Pittsburgh Presbytery is the sixth-largest presbytery in the U.S. with more than 30,000 members in Allegheny County.

Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, PA.

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The Gayly – May 16, 2015 @ 10:15am.