Gay cause leads in PCUSA voting
More than halfway through the balloting by regional presbyteries, a proposal to permit ordination of openly gay and lesbian pastors in the nation's largest Presbyterian denomination holds a lead.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) last year approved dropping the ban on gay clergy by a 373–323 vote, but ratification by a majority of PCUSA's regional units, or presbyteries, is required to make the change. Three similar attempts to adopt the proposal have failed in the last 14 years.
As of March 4, the unofficial tally was 57 yes, 43 no and one tie. The proposed amendment would need a total of 87 yes votes from the 173 presbyteries for approval. At present, candidates for ministry are barred if they cannot vow chastity in singleness and fidelity in heterosexual marriage.
