Special Committee on Civil Unions and Christian Marriage Releases Draft Report

The Special Committee on Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage, established by the 2008 General Assembly, has now released its draft report. The unanimous report provides good and succinct information on several issues the committee was asked to cover, including biblical understandings of marriage, theology of marriage over time, differences between civil unions and marriage, and the legal and financial effects of these differences on same-gender partners and their children.On the last question they were asked to address, however, “the place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community,” they acknowledge, “the PCUSA cannot agree.” Instead, they adopted and commend to the church a covenant that acknowledges that Christ, not we, calls us into the church and binds us to one another. They remind us of the special Presbyterian call to mutual discernment and mutual forbearance.’The draft report includes no recommendations. The committee is asking for response to its report and input to its possible recommendations. Both Presbyterians and sessions who wish to suggest what the “mutual forbearance” the committee commends might look like in practice should send their responses – in 1,000 words or less – to the Special Committee on Issues of Civil Union and Christian Marriage civilunion.marriage@pcusa.org - no later than November 15.The committee’s report - as well, no doubt, as many overtures about marriage and civil unions - will be coming to the 2010 G.A. Your congregation can get a head start on the issues by studying our booklet Frequently Asked Questions about Sexuality, the Bible & the Church, especially these chapters:

* What do Presbyterians Say About Marriage?* Is Gender Complementarity Essential to Christian Marriage?* What Do the Confessions Teach About Sexuality?

Two recent books can also provide important resources for adult ed or other congregational study:

• Stacy Johnson’s A Time to Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in Religion, Law, & Politics (a free study guide is available)
• Chris Glaser’s newest book, As My Own Soul: The Blessing of Same-Gender Marriage.

Suggest them to your session or adult ed director!