MLP General Assembly Legislative Summary, July 6

Civil Unions & Marriage

The General Assembly disapproved overture 13-04 to amend W-4.9001 to change the definition of marriage from a "man and a woman" to "two people" by 308-338-2. The two minority reports related to this overture were also disapproved. For more information, visit the plenary overview.

Attempts to reintroduce overtures 13-05 and 13-02 were disapproved. These authoritative interpretations would have allowed Teaching Elders and Certified Ruling Elders to perform weddings for same gender loving couples in those states which have made it legal, and for whom a legal marriage license has been issued.

13-NB, a legislative item crafted in the Civil Union & Marriage Committee calling for study, was approved by 489-152-0. It answered all of the overtures in the committee.


Part 2 of 4 | Part 3 of 4 | Part 4 of 4

Church Orders & Ministry

An attempt to reinstate previous ordination standards was disapproved by the General Assembly. Overture 07-02 was the minority report for overture 07-17. The General Assembly disapproved substitution of the minority report for the majority report by 169-487-6.

The General Assembly approved overture 07-17 by 405-230-7. The overture makes the statement that faithful Presbyterians hold different views about what the Scriptures teach "concerning the morality of committed, same-gender relationships."

Overture 07-05 adding the words "this includes repentance of sin and diligent use of the means of grace" to G-2.0104a was approved by 329-275-9. This will go to the presbyteries for ratification.