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 | 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...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 10, 2015 | Biblical Interpretation, Marriage & Civil Unions, Personal Testimony, Sermon, Uncategorized
The Rev. Margaret LaMotte Torrence, Interim Pastor of Black Mountain (NC) Presbyterian Church, preached this sermon on February 1, 2015, the day after the Presbytery of Western North Carolina affirmed Amendment 14-F. Her comments at the presbytery meeting are...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 5, 2015 | Covenant Congregations, Marriage & Civil Unions, Personal Testimony
When the Presbytery of Northeast Georgia met to consider Amendment 14-F, both the Pastor of Nacoochee Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Robert W. Prim, and Ruling Elder Theodore Brothers shared their testimony. Bob Prim: God is love, and those who abide in...
by Brian Ellison | Mar 2, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions, Personal Testimony
Debbie and Mike Regele prepared these remarks for the debate on the Marriage Amendment 14-F at the Presbytery of Los Ranchos. Debbie is a ruling elder from Laguna Presbyterian Church. Mike, a teaching elder, is president and CEO of DecisionInsite, LLC, which...
by Brian Ellison | Feb 19, 2015 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity, Personal Testimony
By the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Cuthbertson My thoughts as we approach our presbytery vote on Amendment 14-F this Saturday are focused in two directions. First, I hope for passage. Historically we have tended to vote strongly in support of such items. A second issue is the...
by Brian Ellison | Feb 11, 2015 | Covenant Network News, Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity
By Brian Ellison, Executive Director You can help make February one of the most important months in the decades-long journey for inclusion, equality and love in the Presbyterian Church. By the end of the month of February, more than half the presbyteries will have...
by Brian Ellison | Nov 17, 2014 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity, Personal Testimony
By Ben Fitzgerald-Fye On November 8, the Kiskiminetas Presbytery held its debate and vote on Marriage Amendment 14-F and I had the great honor of being there as a ruling elder and as a gay, married man. In the days leading up to that Saturday, I was in turmoil about...
by Brian Ellison | Nov 12, 2014 | Marriage & Civil Unions, PC(USA) History & Polity
Amendment 14-F does Accurately describe marriage as “a unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman, to love and support each other for the rest of their lives”; Recognize that marriage is not solely a private matter between two people, but...