Gays and lesbians won a major victory regarding the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) on one issue—only to receive a setback regarding another, according to a Kansas City Star item.
On July 8, leaders voted 373-323 to allow non-celibate gays and lesbians to be ordained, marking the fourth time the assembly had approved such a change. District leaders had rejected it the previous times, but church officials are more optimistic this time.
However, later that evening, leaders rejected a proposal to change the definition of “marriage” so same-sex couples could wed, opting to table it and study the issue for two more years. The defintion would have been altered from “a woman and a man” to “two people”—therefore, allowing church weddings in states that allow marriage equality.
Approximately 2.1 million people are members of the U.S. church.