The Presbyterian Church (USA) is nearing the latest turning point in its half-century struggle over same-sex clergy and marriage that could give liberals powerful new leverage against traditionalists — if they choose to exercise it. The coming clash would pit the liberals’ anti-discrimination principles against the evangelical minority's freedom of conscience claims.
Last year’s General Assembly handily passed two significant sexuality changes to the constitution’s Book of Order that also need endorsement by 84 of the 167 regional bodies known as “presbyteries.” Amendment 24-A adds “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the categories of members guaranteed “full participation and representation” in church “governance,” alongside race, sex, age, disability, geography and “theological conviction.”
This law has already been ratified due to support from 91% of the presbyteries that have voted, according to the tabulation by the Covenant Network, which supports “diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.”
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