Alabama Presbyterians vote for marriage equality

Timothy Kincaid

February 12th, 2015

Alabama Presyterians

In a rather timely decision, the central Alabama presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted to endorse changes in the church rules that would allow them to conduct same-sex marriages. (AL.com)

The Presbytery of Sheppards and Lapsley, a central Alabama group of churches affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), voted 75-39 Thursday in favor of approving gay marriages.

They became one of about 38 presbyteries nationwide that have voted in favor of gay marriage, with 14 voting against. The change to the 1.8-million-member denomination’s official stance will become official if 86 of the 171 presbyteries vote in favor.

Now the Presbyterian Church is nowhere as dominant in Alabama as the Southern Baptists. But news like this does go a long way to dilute the But God Says! and Attack on Christianity! messages upon which anti-gay Christian rely so heavily.

Ironically, some of the supportive Presbyterians looked a bit askance at the impromptu ceremonies conducted this week.

Webster said he prefers that gay marriage in the church follow a protocol of the couple being members in a church and seeking pre-marital counseling before being married in a sacred ceremony in a church.

“It seemed frivolous and impetuous,” Webster said. “We would have dealt with it more seriously, with church members in the context of a church community. For us, it’s a worship service.”

And perhaps that’s one of the ways in which we know that society is on the road to full acceptance, when levels of establishment feel that you should follow the prescribed order, just like everyone else!

LJ

February 12th, 2015

Marriage equality is fine, but you still have to follow the book of order. That’s just how Presbyterians roll! ;-)

Ben in oakland

February 13th, 2015

Was pat Rocco a Presbyterian?

Timothy Kincaid

February 13th, 2015

well he was since yesterday, but now he’s been excommunicated and replaced with a room full of women with sensible haircuts.

Nathaniel

February 14th, 2015

“But news like this does go a long way to dilute the But God Says! and Attack on Christianity! messages upon which anti-gay Christian rely so heavily.”

Unfortunately, anti-gay Christians have a tendency to commit the “no true Scotsman” fallacy. I wish the response would only be dilution. But were also going to see a lot of “They aren’t/weren’t really Christians anyway.”

Eric Payne

February 14th, 2015

What are you doing here, Nathaniel??

Go get married already.

Commenting on web sites on the day of his wedding?? You should be putzing around in your closet looking for your shoes or something. Oy.

jerry

February 14th, 2015

What I find promising is the size of the vote. Nearly two thirds of the folks in Alabama favoring equality.

Presbyterians is a lot harder to spell than Baptist but maybe there will be some Baptists who will decide it’s worth the effort to learn to spell a new word.

Mark F.

February 17th, 2015

Well, this vote was predestined to happen by God.

Nathaniel

February 18th, 2015

Thanks, Eric. To be perfectly honest, I was on here earlier than normal, as part of my getting up process (since my partner and I had spent the night apart). Everything was in place, and if it wasn’t there wasn’t much I could do about it, so I decided to enjoy a little recreational reading here on BTB.

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