The US Presbyterian Church passed an historic ruling on Tuesday evening. They have decided to allow openly gay men and women in same-sex relationships to be ordained as clergy. This comes after a similar mandate that was to allow gay clergy was defeated two years ago.

Michael Adee, the executive director of More Light Presbyterians, a Minnesota-based church group, was delighted with the outcome he has been fighting for:

This is quite a day of celebration. I think that the old homophobia and stereotypes are beginning to slowly melt away.

Increasingly contentious debates and struggles over issues pertaining to gay and lesbian members and clergy have been raging for years. The denomination is also not the first to have passed to have passed this mandate.

The new outcome reflects a rather meaningful shift for the 2.8 million-member church, which, along with other mainline Protestant denominations, has been pushing for this for a while.

Reverend Dr. Janet Edwards, a Presbyterian minister and activist from Pittsburgh, who’s presbytery famously put her on trial in 2005 for marrying two women, but acquitted her of the charges three years later was also ecstatic with the outcome:

This is profound for me because the church will now choose clergy based on character and faithful lifestyles, not because they like men or women.

The new amendment to the church’s Book of Order will come into effect in July this year but does not openly mention gay clergy. Instead it asserts more significance toward specific character traits like “a candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability.”

The US Presbyterian Church also issued a statement to coincide with the announcement in which it braced itself for reactions as well as gave further details behind the new move:

Reactions to this change will span a wide spectrum. Some will rejoice, while others will weep. Those who rejoice will see the change as an action, long in coming, that makes the PC(USA) an inclusive church that recognizes and receives the gifts for ministry of all those who feel called to ordained office.

Those who weep will consider this change one that compromises biblical authority and acquiesces to present culture. The feelings on both sides run deep. However, as Presbyterians, we believe that the only way we will find God’s will for the church is by seeking it together – worshiping, praying, thinking, and serving alongside one another.

We are neighbors and colleagues, friends and family. Most importantly, we are all children of God, saved and taught by Jesus Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Times are indeed changing as religion moves into the future.

[Source: HuffingtonPost]