The New York City Presbytery voted 51 to 37 to overture the General Assembly to Amend W-4.9000 in the constitution of the PC(USA).
On Amending W-4.9000 Regarding Marriage—From the Presbytery of New York City.
The Presbytery of New York City respectfully overtures the 220th General Assembly (2012) to direct the Stated Clerk to send the following proposed amendments to the presbyteries for their affirmative or negative votes:
Shall W-4.9000 be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]
“W-4.9000 9. Marriage
“W-4.9001 Christian Marriage
For Christians, Mmarriage is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well-being of the entire human family. Marriage is a civil contract between a woman and a man. For Christians, Marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman two people are called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. In a worship service of Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man between two people, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community of faith.
“W-4.9002 Preparing for Marriage
“a. In preparation for the marriage service, the teaching elder† shall provide for a discussion with the man and the woman two people to be married concerning
“(1) the nature of their Christian commitment, assuring that at least one is a professing Christian,
“(2) the legal requirements of the state,
“(3) the privileges and responsibilities of Christian marriage,
... [The rest of W-4.9002 remains the same.]
“W-4.9003 Time and Place of the Service
“Christian m Marriage service should be celebrated in the place where the community gathers for worship. As a service of Christian worship, the marriage service is under the direction of the teaching elder† and the supervision of the session. (W-1.4004–.4006) The marriage ordinarily takes place in a special service which focuses upon marriage as a gift of God and as an expression of the Christian life. … [The rest of W-4.9003 remains the same.]
“W-4.9004 Form and Order of Service
“The service begins with scriptural sentences and a brief statement of purpose. The man and the woman two people to be married shall declare their intention to enter into Christian marriage and shall exchange vows of love and faithfulness. ... In the name of the triune God the teaching elder† shall declare publicly that the woman and the man two people are now joined in marriage. … [The rest of W-4.9004 and all of W-4.9005remains the same.]
“W-4.9006 Recognizing Civil Marriage
“A service of worship recognizing a civil marriage and confirming it in the community of faith may be appropriate when requested by the couple. The service will be similar to the marriage service except that the opening statement, the declaration of intention, the exchange of the vows by the husband and wife two people, and the public declaration by the teaching elder† reflect the fact that the woman and man two people are already married to one another according to the laws of the state.”
Rationale
Several states have authorized the marriage of two people of the same gender. Although some pastors in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have declined to perform such marriages in keeping with their conscience, many others are caught in an untenable position: their conscience tells them to exercise their pastoral responsibility and perform the marriage.
The biblical tradition does not present one single model of marriage. Biblical testimony and clear commandments concerning marriage are outdated (unless we want to resurrect polygamy in tribal society or the even more obscure institution of levirate marriage).
The Reformers emphatically declared and defended the civil nature of institution of marriage. They dismissed the notion of the sacramental nature of marriage. Thus within the protestant theology the use of the term “Christian marriage” represents a clear example of incoherent language.
Civil authorities in several states make it legal for the same gender couples to marry. The Book of Order should respect and reflect this change in society and make appropriate changes in its language thus:
1. Following the biblical tradition in its mirroring of the development in a society and
2. Embracing the reformation principle of regarding the civil nature of institution of marriage.
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