Not All Are The Same

Religions are all not the same, there are non-affirming and there are affirming religions. Unfortunately, it is usually the non-affirming churches that get the most press coverage. Over the weekend I was part of a panel discussion on gender identity at an Episcopal Church and in a couple of months I will be on another panel at a Congregational Church. And today the Presbyterian Church made news,

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Embraces LGBT-Inclusive Definition Of Marriage
The Huffington Post: Religion
By Carol Kuruvilla
Posted: 03/17/2015

The tide has turned for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples seeking to be married in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A).

Following years of debate and introspection, America’s largest Presbyterian denomination has announced a change to its constitution that allows for a more inclusive definition of marriage.

Officially called Amendment 14-F, the new wording in the denomination’s Book of Order will describe marriage as being “between two people.”

Their decision comes at a price,

Hundreds of parishes have left the denomination in recent years, partly because of its more inclusive attitude toward LGBT members. The PC(USA) counted 10,959 member churches in 2005. That number dropped to 10,038 in 2013, according to church statistics provided to The Huffington Post. The decrease includes both churches that dissolved completely and churches that were dismissed to other denominations, including the more conservative Presbyterian Church in America and the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians -- neither of which ordains gay clergy or condones same-sex marriages.

But they stood up to the pressure and did the right thing.

So don't paint religions with a broad brush because there are some churches that do understand.