Tag: same-sex marriages
Gay marriage revolt in Presbyterian church in New Zealand
September 3, 2015 Layman2 CommentsPresbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ), same-sex marriages
By Briar Babington, New Zealand Herald. Some of the nation's Presbyterian churches are revolting against a ban on performing same-sex marriages imposed by their national body. Last year, the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand (PCANZ) banned its ministers from performing same-sex marriages after the issue was put forward to the general assembly by a…
Pittsburgh Presbytery joins others in endorsing same-sex marriage
May 15, 2015 Layman14 CommentsPittsburgh Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA), same-sex marriages
By Peter Smith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With an emotion-laden but amicable debate preceding a largely symbolic vote, the Pittsburgh Presbytery on Thursday narrowly endorsed a measure allowing same-sex marriage in church life. Ministers and elders in the presbytery voted 122-110 in favor of an amendment to the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that allows but…
How will the gay marriage OK affect the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
March 31, 2015 Layman12 CommentsCarmen LaBerge, Patheos, PCUSA, Presbyterian Church (USA), Richard Ostling, same-sex marriages
By Richard Ostling, Patheos. DUANE'S QUESTION: What do you think will happen to the Presbyterian Church (USA) now that it has voted to officially sanction gay marriage? THE RELIGION GUY'S ANSWER: Maybe not much. The Presbyterian Church (USA) announced March 17 that a nationwide referendum among regional bodies ("presbyteries") has redefined marriage as "between two people,…
Coalition breaks ties with PCUSA over same-sex marriage decision
March 30, 2015 PaulaRKincaid28 CommentsNational Black Church Initiative (NBCI), NBCI, PCUSA, Presbyterian Church (USA), same-sex marriages
A faith-based coalition of 34,000 churches in 15 denominations and 15.7 million African-American members has broken ties with the Presbyterian Church (USA), over its decision to allow same-sex marriages. The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) also urged "the entire Christendom to do so as well." As of March 17th, a majority of PCUSA presbyteries —…
PCUSA's Research Services collecting data on how many same-sex marriages were conducted in 2014
January 22, 2015 The Layman3 CommentsClerk's Annual Questionnaire, Presbyterian Church (USA), Research Services, same-sex marriages
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is trying to find out how many same-sex marriages have occurred in the denomination as a result of the 2014 General Assembly's votes on marriage. The 2014 "Clerk's Annual Questionnaire," prepared by the denomination's Research Services, includes a section on "Same-sex marriage," and includes the following questions: "During 2014, were there…
Second Presbyterian Church splits over denomination issues
January 10, 2015 LaymanJudd Shaw, Presbyterian Church (USA), Presbytery of East Tennessee, same-sex marriages
By Maggie Jones, The Knoxville News SentinelA decision made by Presbyterian Church U.S.A. regarding same-sex marriage has caused Second Presbyterian Church to split. The PCUSA made the decision in June 2014 to allow ministers to perform same-sex marriages in states where it is legal, according to the PCUSA website. Judd Shaw, general presbyter of the…
Gay couple files complaint to challenge Methodist marriage ban
November 14, 2014 LaymanRev. Kelly P. Carpenter, same-sex marriages, United Methodist Church
By Wesley Young, Winston-Salem Journal A gay couple at Green Street United Methodist Church has filed a complaint with their bishop charging that their pastor violated church discipline by refusing to preside at a marriage ceremony for them — despite the denomination's rules that forbid same-sex marriages. Green Street members Kenny Barner and Scott Chappell, who…
Your church, your pastor and same-sex marriage
August 1, 2014 CarmenFowlerLaBerge37 CommentsAuthoritative Interpretation, FreedomToMarry, General Assembly, same-sex marriages
Q: How does the Authoritative Interpretation (AI) issued by the General Assembly (GA) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) which allows pastors to perform, and PCUSA churches facilities to be used for same sex marriages affect you? A: It depends where you live and what safeguards, or permissive language, your session has put into place. If…
Presbyterians facing fallout over votes on marriage and investment policy with Israel
July 8, 2014 Layman9 CommentsConfessing Church, divestment, General Assembly, Israel, Paul Roberts, Presbyterian Church (USA), same-sex marriages, Sheldon Sorge
By Peter Smith Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) leaders are doing plenty of explaining inside and outside their churches these days after their church's top legislative body took stances in June on two volatile issues — opening the way to same-sex marriages involving its pastors and churches and pulling investments in companies aiding the Israeli-occupation of Palestinian…
World Vision, recovering from gay policy shift, tries to shore up its evangelical base
June 28, 2014 LaymanEvangelical, gay policy, Jerry White, Leith Anderson, Rich Stearns, same-sex marriages, World Vision
By Sarah Pulliam Bailey (RNS) World Vision tested evangelical boundaries three months ago when it announced it would allow its employees to be in same-sex marriages. The policy was short-lived; the relief group reversed it within 48 hours after supporters threatened to pull donations. In the past, World Vision has requested that it be known as a…