One of the group’s promoting the inclusion of same-sex marriage within the church is More Light Presbyterians, a LGBT group based in Minneapolis.
“Only God knows what decisions will be made at this General Assembly,” said Michael Adee, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians, “but we do know that the Presbyterian Church (USA) understands now that it baptises and nurtures the faith of its own gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender daughters and sons. Presbyterians, from all walks of life, are expressing their faith and believing out loud that we are all children of God.”
The group has a blog that is documenting the votes and discussions this week surrounding the issue of inclusion in the church.
And, interestingly, the discussion is taking place exactly where the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) had its own similar discussion last year — and where a tornado rolled through.
Already, indications are that the issue could be resolved in favor of LGBT supporters. The newly elected Moderator for the Presbyterian Church (USA), Cynthia Bolbach, says she supports marriage equality in the church.
“Who poses the greatest threat – Larry King, who’s been married seven times, or a gay couple [friends of hers] in Washington, D.C., who have been together for 62 years and who got married two weeks ago?”
The church held open hearings on the issue on Tuesday.
“I hear Christ’s call to discipleship that all of us are called to love God with all our heart, mind and soul,” Adee of More Light said. “One of my teachers is Arch Bishop Tutu. He said, ‘God loves all. All All All. Which part of All do you not understand.’ Barriers dehumanize people. Exclusion makes a child of God doubt they are child of God. We don’t need step children in Presbyterian Church.”
Susan Craig, testified, “In the last 10 years of ministry, I nurtured those called to ordained ministry. Of the 5 Presbyterians called: The straight student refused ordination in the PCUSA because of anti-gay policy. The second serves the Episcopal Church. The third stayed in the closet. The fourth serves the UMC. The fifth dropped out entirely.”
The church’s general assembly will wrap up on July 10.