Pressure Mounting On Presbyterian Church To Ease Gay Rule

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/02/021506presb.htm

At least 21 out of 173 regional bodies in the Presbyterian Church (USA) have petitioned a June legislative assembly to repeal a church law that bars clergy and lay officeholders living in relationships outside heterosexual marriage.

The tally was reported by the San Francisco-based Covenant Network of Presbyterians, which has long advocated repealing the law. Wednesday was the deadline for such legislation.

The bills ignore a special task force's plea against making changes this year to help keep the church unified in the face of divisions over the role of gays in the denomination.

The regional units (called presbyteries) that are calling for repeal of the ban are in 15 states and cover such major cities as Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis and New York.

[xchrom]

1. the presbyterians like the episcopal church

could face down a schism over this.

there are some big churches -- even here in cali -- who actively opposed to loosening the rules for gay clergy within the presbyterians.