The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA on Thursday approved same-sex marriage.
During a meeting in Detroit, the church’s governing body voted 71 percent to 29 percent to change the definition of marriage in its constitution from “a man and a woman” to “between two people.”
“We believe that God created each of us with many differences, including sexual preferences, and that those differences are to be celebrated as part of the creative plan of God,” the proposal for the change stated.
Before the change can take affect, the majority of the church’s 172 presbyteries must approve it.
In a related decision, the General Assembly also passed an amendment allowing clergy to perform same-sex marriages in states where gay marriage is legal.
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church USA has about 2 million members.
• Meredith Somers can be reached at msomers@washingtontimes.com.
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