Lauren Markoe of Religion News Service writes:
The governing body of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) decided Thursday (June 19) to allow gay weddings within the church, making it among the largest Christian denominations to take an embracing step toward same-sex marriage.
By a 76-24 percent vote, the General Assembly of the 1.8 million-member PCUSA voted to allow pastors to perform gay marriages wherever they are legal. The Assembly has yet to vote on changing language about marriage in the church’s Book of Order which would alter references to “a man and woman” to “two persons.” That vote is expected late Thursday afternoon.If the Assembly, meeting in Detroit this week, makes such a change, it would not become church law unless a majority of the 172 presbyteries (regional governing bodies) also approve amending the Book of Order.