BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), severely split over homosexuality, would maintain its ban on gay clergy but allow some leeway in enforcing it under a proposal headed to a national assembly vote on Tuesday. A key committee, which divided 30-28, proposed keeping on the books a church law mandating that lay officeholders as well as all clergy restrict sexual activity to heterosexual marriage.
But another bill would give local congregations and regional "presbyteries" leeway on whether to require that rule in all cases.
A committee minority plans to propose an alternate to that proposal. Ten conservative Presbyterian groups have warned jointly that approval of what they call "local option" would "promote schism by permitting the disregard of clear standards of Scripture."
Facing seemingly endless acrimony on gays and other issues, a special task force spent four years pondering how the denomination could remain united. Its report to this assembly included the compromise plan to keep the sexual law intact but allow local flexibility in applying it.
Liberal caucuses protest that this will leave injustice in place. Conservatives call it an illicit means for the national assembly to rewrite church law.
During a three-hour debate Sunday, many committee members pleaded to send the flexibility idea out to regional presbyteries for fuller discussion. They were voted down.
The 534 delegates hold plenary sessions to discuss legislation from Monday morning through midday Thursday.
Another bill that could prompt intense debate would encourage gender- neutral worship language for the divine Trinity—for instance "Mother, Child and Womb"—alongside the traditional "Father, Son and Holy Spirit."
The delegates also will consider a proposal to soften the 2004 assembly's decision to selectively pull Presbyterian investments from corporations involved with Israel.
This month, the denomination reported a net loss of 48,474 members since last year, the 40th annual decline in a row. Its 11,000 congregations have 2.3 million active members and a total of 3.1 million on the baptismal rolls.
Finances got a boost with Thursday's surprise announcement that businessman Stanley W. Anderson, a Denver Presbyterian, contributed $150 million to aid struggling congregations and start new ones.
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On the Net:
Presbyterian assembly: http://www.pcusa.org/ga217
