Presbyterian
Church to vote on compromise to gay clergy ban

A proposal to be considered by the Presbyterian Church's national assembly in Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday will try to mend the church's internal controversy over homosexuality. The proposal would maintain the church's current ban on gay clergy but would allow some flexibility in enforcing it, the Associated Press reports. A committee voted 30-28 to keep a church law mandating that lay officeholders and all clergy restrict sexual activity to only heterosexual marriage. But another bill would create leeway for local congregations and regional presbyteries on whether to abide by that rule. A special task force spent four years contemplating how the Presbyterian Church could remain united. The result is this compromise plan. But neither conservative nor liberal Presbyterians are likely to embrace the plan. The church's conservative caucus called the plan a deceptive way to undermine church law, while progressives complained that the compromise doesn't do enough to fully include gay people. The proposal comes as the 534 delegates of the national assembly gather to discuss and make church legislation. The gathering ends Thursday. (The Advocate)