Presbyterian Church (USA) just voted 54% to 46% to end discrimination against LGBT members

San Jose: This is an amazing moment in history. I give thanks to God for all of you who have been praying, believing and working for the Presbyterian Church (USA) to end discrimination against its own lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender daughters and sons, sisters and brothers in Christ.

Today, the 218th General Assembly of the PCUSA voted 54% to 46% to end discrimination against LGBT members of our Church; and to provide spiritual and ordination equality for LGBT Presbyterians.

The Assembly approved the Boston Ordination Equality Overture which called for a deletion of the "fidelity in marriage, chastity in singleness" requirement and lifted up our historic Constitutional questions for ordination and installation. This part of the overture requires ratification by the presbyteries in the next year.

The second part of the overture provides a new Authoritative Interpretation struck down the anti-gay policy statements beginning with the 1978 Definitive Guidance and the subsequent 1979 ruling that homosexuality is not compatible with service in the Church, sinful and not part of God's design. These profoundly informed and homophobic statements from the past of our Church have no further force or effect with the approval of this Boston Ordination Overture.

More Light Presbyterians gives thanks to God for all of the Commissioners, Youth Advisory Delegates and other delegates who are serving faithfully this week. There is clearly a sea-change in our Church, society and world as more people are letting go of the old beliefs and prejudice about homosexuality, same-gender loving persons and embracing what it means to recognize Christ and the divine image within all of God children, no exceptions.

Our work of witness, education, truth-telling, sharing our stories within our local churches, on our college and seminary campuses has just begun! We have one year to pray and work so that this Boston Ordination Equality Overture will be thoughtfully and prayerfully considered, heard and ratified by our presbyteries. You can count on More Light  Presbyterians having "every hand on deck" working 24/7 by providing educational resources and empowering local leaders so that we can honor the good work of faith,  justice and love done today.

The joyous work of being the Church and sharing our faith to achieve the ratification of the Boston Ordination Equality Overture will begin on June 28 at the close of this Assembly. For this moment, on this day, we rejoice in the fact that this Assembly has provided a way forward for our beloved Church.

Together we are building a Church for all God's people!

with hope and grace,
Michael

Michael J. Adee, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director & Field Organizer
More Light Presbyterians, 369 Montezuma Avenue # 447, Santa Fe, New Mexico