The Presbyterian Church USA accounting for almost 2 million members have finally voted to include gay and lesbian marriages as part of their constitution after years of debate.
The church representing the largest Presbyterian denomination, has made the announcement on Tuesday after the majority of its 171 regional governing bodies gave the approval for this new modification.
It has been revised that this new constitution will now interpret that marriage is “a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman,” as opposed to just a man and woman formerly.
The new revision which has been approved by the church’s General Assembly in 2014 had to have the consent of more than 50 percent of its regional bodies. An assembly of congregations in the state of New Jersey was the 86th body to do so.
This verdict is most like going to force a huge block between the two opposite sides of this issue of the Presbyterian USA members.
At the Presbyterian General Assembly of 2014, the church has given the pastors a positive signal on marrying gay and lesbian couple in the states where same-sex marriage has been legalized.
Gradye Parsons, the clerk of the General Assembly said at the time, that, “These decisions have been welcomed by some and are a disappointment to others.”
The Presbyterians’ position stands strongly in contrast to that of the Roman Catholic Church, the leading solitary denomination amongst Americans, and the fundamentalist Evangelicals who feel very strongly in opposing the idea of gay marriage.
The Presbyterian Church USA has voted for the approval and support of the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy in 2011.
The constitution’s newly revised words will be applicable from June 21.
The Presbyterian Church USA consisted of 1.76 million members as of the end of 2013.
