Presbyterian leaders vote in favor of gay clergy

By Celeste Lavin, 365gay.com
07.27.2010 7:00am EDT

Presbyterian leaders voted 373 to 323 to end the ban on partnered gay clergy at their biennial General Assembly.

This is not the first time the Presbyterian Church of the U.S.A (PCUSA) voted against the ban. On three previous occasions, the General Assembly voted to lift it and sent the matter to the 173 presbyteries for a ratification vote.

The presbyteries will vote on whether to remove sexuality from ordination requirements or to maintain the status quo, which requires all clergy members to be married or celibate.

As the church does not recognize gay marriage, the ban requirements would be supplemented to include clarification that partnered gays and lesbians could become part of the clergy.

The General Assembly also voted on recognizing gay marriages, but ultimately voted against the measure.

While the presbyteries voted down allowing partnered gay clergy to serve three times, progressive Presbyterians are hopeful. The margin of defeat has been decreasing; the most recent round of voting fell just nine votes short of permitting gay clergy.