by Brian Ellison | Feb 22, 2016 | Marriage & Civil Unions
As congregations continue to rejoice in the attainment of marriage equality in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), couples are working with pastors to craft meaningful worship services to celebrate their covenant commitments. Some are developing new forms, and others...
by Brian Ellison | Aug 14, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions, Personal Testimony
By Bob Coates The congregation at Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church has been in conversation over the issue of homosexuality and the church for the past five years. As one of the few openly gay members in the church, it has been a roller-coaster ride, to say the least –...
by Brian Ellison | Jul 16, 2015 | Biblical Interpretation, Marriage & Civil Unions, Personal Testimony, Theology
by Michael B. Regele Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2014. A book review by Tricia Dykers Koenig Love God with all you have and all you are, and love your neighbor as yourself. Are these two Great Commandments ever in conflict? Does God put people of faith in the position...
by Brian Ellison | Jul 2, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions
Presbyterian teaching elder Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, who with her husband, Bruce, co-pastors Limestone Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, Delaware, has a well-known ministry writing hymns that enable worshipers to respond liturgically to what’s happening in the...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 29, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions
By Stephanie Anthony The session of the church I get to serve, First Presbyterian Church in Hudson, Wisconsin, met for a special meeting on Saturday morning, April 11, and something wonderful happened. About half way through a Spirit-filled two hour meeting, the...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 26, 2015 | Covenant Network News, Marriage & Civil Unions
The Covenant Network is profoundly grateful for the decision of the Supreme Court in Obergefell v. Hodges, in which the Court proclaimed that states may not refuse to grant marriage licenses to couples of the same sex, and must recognize valid marriages contracted in...
by Brian Ellison | Jun 21, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity
The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been wrestling with issues surrounding the blessing of same-gender relationships for at least the last 25 years. With the rapidly-changing landscape for marriage equality in the United States, the rules on applying constitutional...
by Brian Ellison | Apr 28, 2015 | Covenant Network News, Marriage & Civil Unions
As the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the cases that could bring nationwide marriage equality — consolidated and known as Obergefell v. Hodges — the Justices had access to numerous friend-of-the-court briefs encouraging a ruling in favor of the...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 30, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity
By James Hudnut-Beumler My illusions about Christian marriage as a Presbyterian minister were shattered very quickly. The first marriage I officiated over also involved a justice of the peace because I was serving as a student pastor, not yet ordained. He signed the...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 18, 2015 | Covenant Network News, Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity
Note: The final vote tally on Amendment 14-F was 121 presbyteries in favor and 47 opposed, with one tie, one voting to take no action, and one not reporting. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is grateful that with today’s presbytery votes, a majority of the 171...
