Since I last posted on the vote in the Presbyterian Church (USA) on whether to allow noncelibate gay clergy, the hill has grown steeper for pro-gay groups.
The PCUSA’s newswire now reports that 42 local presbyteries favor changing the policy to allow partnered gays in the pulpit, and 69 have voted no. A simple majority of the 173 presbyteries is needed to pass the measure.
Gay groups may take heart, though, in that 19 presbyteries have switched from “no” to “yes” on gay clergy, and the tally may be the closest yet. The tally in 1997 was 57 for and 114 against; in 2001 it was 46 for and 127 against.
