Observations on the legalization of same-sex marriage in California     [6-2-08]

Many progressive Presbyterians are heartened by the action of the California Supreme Court on May, legalizing same-sex marriages. An article in The Nation puts this action in the wider context of U.S. politics and culture, while also pointing out that for Californians, it’s not such a big change, after all.

Richard Kim writes: 

The California gay marriage debate illustrates important national trends . . . Growing numbers of Americans favor gay rights, including some form of partnership recognition for same-sex couples, especially when framed as economic and legal rights. This is particularly true of young voters . . . [b]ut this trend also holds true for voters of all ages . . .

Read the full article >>

More Light Presbyterians offers an announcement / celebration / commentary after the California Supreme Court decision validating same-sex marriage.

The Covenant Network announces its policy recommendations for the 218^th GA
[posted 5-10-08]

This G.A. can make real progress:

In light of the recent GA PJC decision in Bush V. Presbytery of Pittsburgh, the Covenant Network believes that our hopes for a just and gracious church require working at this Assembly both to reaffirm the traditional Presbyterian process ratified by the 2006 Assembly and to change the standards for ordination.

To that end, we urge the General Assembly to take several actions:

GAPJC rules that by definition, same-sex ‘marriage’ cannot be performed     [posted by Doug King, 4-29-08]

Presbyterian News Service reports from Louisville: In a reversal of a lower church court ruling, the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr has been found not guilty of violating the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s constitution by performing same-sex ‘marriages’ for two lesbian couples.

The complicated verdict of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the General Assembly (GAPJC) — the church’s highest court — was released on Monday (April 29).

It found that Spahr, who conducted two same-gender marriages in 2004 and 2005, could not be “found guilty of doing that which, by definition, cannot be done.”

The ruling reverses a decision by the PJC of the Synod of the Pacific, which on appeal had ordered the PJC of Redwoods Presbytery to “rebuke” Spahr for conducting the ceremonies after the presbytery’s court had found her “not guilty.”

The full news report >>

For the full text of the GAPJC decision (about ten pages in PDF format)

Just added:

 "Each person --- regardless of gender, sexual orientation or bodily condition -- has a moral right to love and be loved." This excerpt is from "More Light on Marriage," teaching resource on marriage equality included as a file with this email from the MLP web site: www.mlp.org

The Presbyterian Church (USA) has two upcoming opportunities to recognize and affirm that moral right to love and be loved. First, this next week in the decision its highest judicial court, the General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission, will render in the case against the Rev. Janie Spahr for officiating at weddings of same-sex couples; and this June in San Jose with consideration of the Baltimore Overture to the 218th General Assembly on marriage equality. ...

As More Light Presbyterians, we stand with all Presbyterians who experience the gifts and joys of love, intimacy, relationships and family. We believe and we know that the most important thing is the quality of the relationship, not the gender of someone's spouse, beloved or partner. Body and soul are one, they cannot be separated; and when the Church attempts to do so, or legislate that separation, great harm is done.

The full MLP statement >>

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