Presbyterian gay marriage

The Supreme Court ruling earlier this year legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide has continued to raise questions about how the decision will affect religious groups — especially those that remain opposed to allowing gay and lesbian couples to wed. Many of the largest U. At the same time, in the past two decades, several other religious groups also have moved to allow same-sex couples to marry within their traditions.

Where Christian churches, other religions stand on gay marriage

Another mainline Protestant denomination, the Presbyterian Church U. Among the four largest mainline Protestant churchesthe same-sex marriage debate has not been simple. And the debate within the Presbyterian Church has already led some marriages to break away and join other, more conservative Presbyterian denominations.

Both denominations allow clergy to opt out of performing same-sex marriages, while the ELCA allows ministers and their congregations to determine their own policies. The United Methodist Church does not allow same-sex blessings gay marriages. But the United Methodists also have been intensely debating the issue, particularly in the past year or so, presbyterian a church court tried, defrocked and eventually reinstated the Rev.

Frank Schaefera Methodist pastor who had performed a same-sex marriage ceremony for his gay son. This is an update of a post originally published June 18, and previously updated on July 2, Michael Lipka is an associate director focusing on news and information research at Pew Research Center.

Short Reads. December 21, By David Masci and Michael Lipka. Share This Link:.