{The Presbyterian Church USA which accounts for just under two million members, voted Tuesday to expand its definition of marriage to include gay and lesbian couples.}<\/p>\n
The church, which represents the largest Presbyterian denomination, made the announcement after the majority of its 171 regional governing bodies approved the change.<\/p>\n
Its revised constitution will now read that marriage is “a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman,” as opposed to just a man and woman previously.<\/p>\n
The new language, which was approved by the church’s General Assembly last year, had to be ratified by more than half its regional bodies.<\/p>\n
A grouping of congregations in the state of New Jersey became the 86th body to do just that Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The decision is likely to drive a further wedge between Presbyterian USA members, who have taken opposite sides on the issue.<\/p>\n
At last year’s Presbyterian General Assembly, the church also gave its pastors a green light to marry gay and lesbian couples in states where such marriages are allowed.<\/p>\n
“These decisions have been welcomed by some and are a disappointment to others,” Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the General Assembly, said at the time.<\/p>\n
The Presbyterians’ position stands in sharp contrast to that of the Roman Catholic church, the biggest single denomination among Americans, and fundamentalist Evangelicals who strongly oppose gay marriage.<\/p>\n
In 2011, the Presbyterian Church USA voted to approve the ordination of openly gay and lesbian clergy.<\/p>\n
The constitution’s new wording will take effect on June 21.<\/p>\n
The Presbyterian Church USA had 1.76 million members as of the end of 2013.<\/p>\n
{{AFP}}<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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