Media Release: General Assembly Committee Approves Marriage Equality Amendment

Civil Union & Marriage Committee

More Light Presbyterians
Media Release
Media Contact: Michael J. Adee, Executive Director, 505.577.0086, michael@mlp.org

General Assembly Committee Approves Marriage Equality Amendment

Pittsburgh, PA: A historic moment happened last night in the Civil Union and Marriage Committee at the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The General Assembly Committee approved a marriage equality overture.

The Civil Union and Marriage Committee passed overture 13-04 to amend W-4.9001, the Directory of Worship to change the definition of marriage from a "man and a woman" to "two persons" by 28 to 24. The Directory of Worship is part of our Book of Order, the PCUSA's Constitution. The committee also passed legislation calling on the PCUSA to study the meaning of Christian marriage .

"We give thanks to God for the thoughtful discussion and prayerful discernment that led to this historic decision. This is the first big step toward marriage equality in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Surely as the prophet Isaiah said, 'God is doing a new thing in our midst.' As a gay man baptized, confirmed and ordained in this Church, this moment recognizing same gender loving people in both church and society feels like we are stepping on holy ground." said Michael J. Adee, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians.

The next step for this marriage equality amendment is for it to be presented by the Civil Union and Marriage Committee to the entire Assembly. Discussion and voting on this amendment will be announced on the General Assembly Docket once all committee work is completed today.

The important attempt to resolve the pastoral crisis now for Presbyterian ministers serving in states where same-sex marriage is legal failed in committee by the narrow margin of 24 to 26. Overture 13-05 would have called for an Authoritative Interpretation which would have allowed Presbyterians ministers to perform same-sex marriages in states where they are legal.

"As as Presbyterian minister, I look forward to the day when I can offer pastoral care to all persons within the congregation I serve and in my community. Counseling and supporting couples in matters of love, commitment, faithfulness and marriage is a significant part of pastoral care. This is true for the same gender loving couples God sends my way along with heterosexual couples. My deep hope and prayer is that the Presbyterian Church (USA) will be on the right side of history and keep standing on the side of love," said Rev. Heidi Peterson, pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Kansas City, Missouri and Co-Moderator, More Light Presbyterians.

http://ga220.blogspot.com/2012/07/mlp-general-assembly-legislative_03.html

July 3: Civil Union & Marriage Committee

All times are Eastern

10:14 PM

Overture 13-04 to amend W-4.9001 to change the definition of marriage from a "man and a woman" to "two persons" passed by 28-24.

Shall what we have done answer all business before us? Strong vote yes. Committee closed. 35-13-1.

8:30 PM

New Motion: "Move to approve 13-05 (AI) and make it the answer to all the overtures in the committee."

Discussion for and against:
--"Pastors need to be able to marry in same gender couples in states that offer them marriage. We need to embrace love and justice. It will give us the time for discernment we need."
--"It is the task of both the PJC and the GA to offer authoritative interpretations. This is not a mandate on high, but simply doing our job. This will be vetted by the GA as well."
--"What I read in the Bible is that the practice of homosexuality is a sin. The church has not done a good job of answering with love. It is not gracious to condone a sin."
--"This does not change the definition of marriage. It allows our teaching elders to exercise conscience in their ministry. It frees us to study."

--Amendment:  "Teaching elders and commissioned ruling elders authorized to conduct services of marriage, as agents of the state may, at their sole discression, following the discussion required in W-9.2002a, officiate at a service of civil marriage for two person who meet the legal requirements of the state to whom the elder demonstrates sufficient committment..."
--Speeches for and against the amendment.
--Question called on amendment.
--Amendment fails 16-27-4

--Overture 13-07 proposed as substitute motion. Rejected by moderator.
--Vote to divide the question. Passes. Answering all the overtures in the committee is now a seperate motion.
--Speeches against and in favor of 13-07.
--Question has been called
--This vote will be done with a paper ballot to protect the privacy of the commissioners.
--Motion fails by 24-26-2

Overture Advocate Speeches in Civil Union & Marriage Committee

Overture Advocates supporting marriage equality overtures spoke before the Civil Unions & Marriage Committee on July 2, 2012 at the 220th General Assembly. Here are the speeches in favor of amending the definition of marriage in W-4.9000 and in favor of an authoritative interpretation of W-4.9000.

Speeches in Favor of Amendments Changing the Definition of Marriage in W-4.9000 and an Authoritative Interpretation (AI) of W-4.9000

Listen to Overture Advocate speeches

Amend Overtures

Speeches in Favor of an Authoritative Interpretation (AI) of W-4.9000
AI Overtures

July 2: Civil Union & Marriage Committee

All times are Eastern

9:05 PM

Some words from Scripture and then the committee closes until tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. 

8:39 PM

What are the impressions I am left with from today? Reports back from the table discussions.

Spokespersons:
 --"Our conversation we tried to recognize the difference of Biblical interpretation, the pain on both sides and tremendous pain across the whole church. If we change the definition of marriage in the same year as 10-A, we will have more difficulty in our church and in our ecumenical relationships. Is there a third way that would require the whole church to be involved in a serious study on this issue. Sometimes it takes a while for people to seriously study the issue. Trying to make a decision for the whole church in the next couple of days is too soon. Can we give the church some space to have an experience like we're having here."
--"This is a very emotional issue and we're being asked for a reasoned response. We are not sure that the church is ready. We still need conversations."
--"If you don't change LGBT people are hurt. If you do change, churches will leave. We're facing down dire consequences. The second is how the Bible interprets marriage. It is hard to take a 1,000 year old document and try to discern what was meant in that document. How do you make a decision with so little information. How do you create a balance between hard emotions and feelings. People on either side will be offended by the results of what is decided here. There is lots of emotion involved on both sides. It is hard to look at the facts and make a clear decision without emotion."
--"This is a huge weight on each of us. We want to thank our leadership for helping us be prayerful. I wish that both sides (tears) would be open and be willing to pray and talk to each other. Perhaps we could stay together. I don't think any of us have heard anything that is new. We are far from a consensus but we all love Jesus Christ."
--"There was a lot of scripture they were throwing out to us out of context. We were concerned about the predictions about who stays and who leaves. We do this for the will of God, not for the preservation of the denomination. Some of us felt hurt with what we have gone through."
--"We were struck by how two groups could take the same scripture and read entirely different things and then also talking totally past each other. They were not speaking the same language. Some were strong in scripture and some were strong in personal stories. There was a sense that we should not be making decisions on the basis of emotional crisis or fear of breaking up. We need to listen to our mission partners...we should not make that irrelevant. We are trying to discern the truth and people have things to say to us. We thought that this is a very, very big decision. Our entire table was convinced that an AI would be very damaging to the church. It is 300 voices making a decision for the entire denomination. We need more discussion, more intentional gatherings where people of different sides can actually have conversation. We feel that we are rushing that that we need to take some time with this. There needs to be consensus and this is tied to the confessions. To make a confessional change should have consensus."
--"We heard a lot of people who were trying to be faithful. We heard a lot of fear on all sides. We heard a lot of pain in many voices who spoke to us today. We talked about Jesus and what he had to say in different ways. Some people think about Jesus' words about marriage and some more broadly including Jesus' statements about inclusivity. Everyone is a child of God and we hope everyone would be part of our church."
--"After listening to what everyone has said, we've come to consensus to what the problems are. The two sides are so far apart. We have covenant agreements here but people on the outside don't have them. We're the disciples in the Upper Room waiting for answers. We're in a waiting period. We're waiting for God to speak to us. We also heard the pain. The pain of the LGBT people. When we interpret Scripture from different ways, how can we handle this issue. We need to do it in a way that is pleasing to God."
--"We need to remember that if we pass an Amend or AI, no one will be forced to do something against their own personal conviction."
--"Remember that God is God and God is in control. They are made through the power of the Holy Spirit. We've heard a lot of rhetoric tonight. There are a lot of churches waiting for a decision. Revelation says that if we add anything to the word of God, we will be condemned."
--"It is ok for us as Presbyterians to be in conflict with this. It is really difficult for all of us. None of us asked to be on this committee. Conflict is not a bad thing at all."
--"We need to pray (tears)."