NEWS STORY: Presbyterian body approves same-sex `unions’ but not marriages

c. 1999 Religion News Service NEW YORK _ The Presbytery of the Hudson River of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), which represents 96 churches in seven counties north of New York City, has voted overwhelmingly to allow ministers to perform same-sex holy unions _ as long as the ceremonies are not called marriages. The Jan. 30 vote […]

c. 1999 Religion News Service

NEW YORK _ The Presbytery of the Hudson River of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A), which represents 96 churches in seven counties north of New York City, has voted overwhelmingly to allow ministers to perform same-sex holy unions _ as long as the ceremonies are not called marriages.

The Jan. 30 vote _ 107-to-35 _ surprised liberal ministers who had been quietly performing same-sex ceremonies and prompted conservative ministers to file a petition seeking to overturn the decision.”I thought my colleagues were brave to step out of the closet,”said the Rev. James Gilmore, senior pastor of the South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.”Hospitality in churches must include gays and lesbians.” But those who opposed the decision say same-sex ceremonies violate the Bible. Rev. Marc Benton of Bethlehem Presbyterian Church in New Windsor and 13 others have signed a petition he says will be filed this month asking the judicial committee of the regional synod to overturn the vote.”I don’t see any place in the Scriptures where a gay wedding _ and that’s what we’re talking about _ is condoned,”said Benton.


According to denomination officials the vote represents the first time a presbytery has taken a stand on the issue, but they said it essentially affirms the church’s current policy on same-sex unions.”It affirms the freedom of ministers and churches to participate in same-sex unions based on the understanding of church policy that was adopted by the assembly in 1991,”said Jerry Van Marter, director of the Presbyterian News Service. The General Assembly is the church’s highest decision-making body.

The Book of Order, the Presbyterian church code, states:”It would not be proper for ministers of word and sacrament to perform same-sex unions that the minister determines to be the same as marriage.” Under the motion adopted by the Hudson River Presbytery, ministers would be allowed to”perform ceremonies of holy union (within or outside the confines of the church sanctuary) between persons of the same gender, reflecting our understanding at this time that these ceremonies do not constitute marriage as defined in the Book of Order.” The Board of Elders at Bethlehem Presbyterian launched its initial protest with the presbytery last summer when a local newspaper printed a story about gay weddings being performed at a Dobbs Ferry congregation.

The board charged that two ministers at South Presbyterian Church were performing the ceremonies in violation of the church constitution and asked that a committee be formed to investigate the matter.

In fact, ministers at the church had performed between 12 and 15 ceremonies for same-sex couples over the last decade, defining them as holy unions, not marriages as recognized under New York state law.”I understand that the marriage contract is between a man and a woman,”said Gilmore.”(Gay couples) want to say `I love you and want take a place beside you for life.’ Our sanctuaries should be a place where this sacred pledge can be made.” But the existing church law did pose some confusion for other ministers, like Rev. Steve Geckeler of the Presbyterian Church of White Plains, who had interpreted it to mean same-sex ceremonies were illegal and therefore did not perform them.”The saddest day of my life was not being able to bless the union of my niece who is gay and her partner,”he said. He said the vote clarified the issue for him and he is encouraged that it will”affirm monogamy over promiscuity.”It honors the commitment the couple is making,”Geckeler said.”My distinction is that a marriage, technically, has to have legal and religious standing and there’s no attempt to get legal standing.” Van Marter said the vote will likely spur fresh initiatives from presbyteries across the nation to outlaw the performing of same-sex unions entirely.

Gilmore and others said they hope the vote will inspire other churches to discuss homosexuality more openly and create a more welcoming spiritual home for gays and lesbians.”We’ve only just begun to talk about these issues,”Gilmore said, adding that it is time for the church to think about them all over again.”Every person is sacred in God’s eyes and the church had better pay attention.” DEA END WORDEN

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