Matters of Conscience

Today, without too much surprise, the General Assembly adopted two actions concerning same-sex marriage.

The first was to issue an Authoritative Interpretation (AI) for W-4.900 in the Directory of Worship, which allows that pastors may perform same gender marriages in jurisdictions where such is legal. It is extremely important to note that the full text of this explicitly states that such action is a matter of conscience, meaning that no pastor can be compelled to officiate, nor can church property be used without authorization of the session.

It is important to understand that an AI has an immediate effect over all the councils of the church, directing how the constitution is applied, while not actually changing the constitution. While it is an action of the General Assembly that has been used many times for many good reasons in prior years, it seems to many Presbyterians in this particular instance, to be an “end run” around constitutional process.

The second action was to amend the definition of marriage within the Directory of Worship as being between two people, traditionally a man and a woman. The words “traditionally a man and a woman” were added as an amendment during the floor debate on the overture. This second action, because it is a change to part of the PCUSA constitution requires approval of a majority of the denominations presbyteries over the next year, and would take effect one year from the adjournment of the GA on Saturday.

In assessing the process today, I believe there is a legitimate complaint that the Authoritative Interpretation in this case circumvented advisable process in this matter, because, while perhaps legal and permissible, and AI for such a controversial matter might seem to some as bending rules unnecessarily or even unfairly.

Irrespective, this is what this General Assembly did, and we need to figure out where we go from here. I strongly urge all of us to look for ways to hold together. From my perspective, I believe we must clearly and faithfully promise to each other that we will, at all costs, uphold that no pastor or session can be compelled to do something which, in their understanding of faith and discipleship, they cannot do. 

If we do this for each other, we can live together in faithful covenant.