History: GA Day 6

History was made this afternoon when the General Assembly approved two items that will permit pastors to perform same-sex marriages as soon as Saturday noon. The first to be adopted was an authoritative interpretation (“AI”) of the PC(USA) Constitution’s statement on marriage (W-4.9001) which affirmed the freedom of conscience of pastors to exercise their own discretion in deciding to perform marriages that are legal in their civil jurisdiction. It also permits pastors and sessions to refuse to perform (or to allow) such marriages.  The second was a proposed constitutional amendment that would amend the language of W-4.9001 to describe marriage as between “two people – traditionally a man and a woman.” This will require the ratification of a majority of the presbyteries before it could take effect one year from Saturday. But no matter, the AI is sufficient unto itself, and word has it that couples are preparing wedding cakes for Saturday afternoon.

The two items passed with overwhelming majorities: 61% to 39% on the first, and 71%-29% on the second.

Moderator Heath Rada was disciplined and pastoral in the management of the hall. The votes were followed immediately by prayer for those whose conscience is wounded by these actions. And the backlash was immediate. The Presbyterian Layman – the press organ of the schismatic right wing – has encouraged members to financially boycott even their own congregations if they do not publicly repudiate the actions. Global Mission director Hunter Farrell indicated that some 17 global mission partners – primarily in Central America and Africa – are likely to sever formal ties with the denomination. It is also expected that many conservative congregations will now move to seek dismissal from the denomination.

While I would have preferred an action that would have given space for pastoral discretion without addressing marriage directly, the Assembly should be lauded for its courage to take a stand that they know will be unpopular with many in order to extend the blessing of the church to all its members.

They were not helped by the Stated Clerk and the ACC, which gave confusing and contradictory advice on the constitutional impact of the two principal overtures. Let me do what they did not, and explain what this means for Presbyterians.  First, pastors may perform weddings for gay couples on church grounds with the permission of the session, or outside the church grounds at their own discretion, provided such weddings are legal where they are conducted. Second, no pastor or session may be compelled to conduct or approve a wedding against their conscience. The authoritative interpretation reverses a 1991 authoritative interpretation on the same topic which prohibited such services. It did so by appealing to the Presbyterian principle of freedom of conscience of the believer. In so doing, it implicitly (but not explicitly) revised its 1991 ruling which gave definitional (and therefore prescriptive) force to the formulation of “a man and a woman” in W-4.9001. The implicit interpretation now is that the language is merely descriptive and therefore not binding. The latter is actually a more honest interpretation of the passage. If it were intended to be prescriptive, it should have included mandatory words like “shall” or “shall not.”

Now that gay marriage will become a reality in the PC(USA) it has had an immediate effect on gay and lesbian pastors. As one told me, “Well, now I no longer have an excuse [not to marry]. I guess I’ll be having a conversation with my partner when I get home.”

The morning session consisted primarily of small group conversations and prayer among commissioners as they shared perspectives on the afternoon topic of marriage, and tomorrow afternoon’s topic of divestment. 

In the evening, numerous committees with less controversial business held the floor. There was a moving tribute to former moderator Cynthia Bolbach, who died of cancer in December 2012. The evening concluded with a rousing celebration of 248 new worshiping communities to date in the 1001 New Worshiping Communities initiative. To celebrate, 248 Pentecost-red beach balls were set loose on the Assembly while Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” played on the sound system.

Tomorrow will bring to the floor two more hot-button issues: Synods and the Middle East. While no one has waged war over synods, the debate over the amended recommendations of the Mid Council Commission being brought to the floor is heating up. One counterproposal is said to have genuine potential to upset the committee recommendations. That will take place in the morning; in the afternoon we expect that there will be a full house for the much awaited vote on divesting from companies directly profiting from the military occupation of Palestine.

Perhaps at that time we may encounter our first “crying YAAD.” A biennial feature of this blog is the wait for the Crying YAAD (young adult advisory delegate) to appear. By Friday night, the stress of long work hours, little sleep, and emotional issues wears on the nerves of young and old alike. Invariably at least one YAAD will break down and sob while making an impassioned speech. “The Assembly ain’t over until the YAAD cries,” the saying goes.

All business other than budget must be completed before recessing tomorrow night. In years past, that has required working until as late as 2 a.m.  I expect recess will come earlier due to the lighter work load and the use of the consent calendar to process over 130 items in one vote. I am predicting a relatively early 11:15 p.m. recess. We shall see if the Crying YAAD appears.