Members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have for decades been struggling to come to a consensus about the role of gays and lesbians in the church. And they just can't make up their mind.
The church allows the blessing of same-sex unions, but defines homosexual acts as sinful and won't ordain partnered lesbian or gay candidates for priesthood. They're steadfast in opposition to same-sex marriage - but vindicate priests who preside over them, saying church-approved marriages can't exist no matter what priests do or say.
It's an often-contradictory set of beliefs that has believers on both sides unsatisfied.
Now, the church's leaders have come to the Bay Area, after a week's worth of highly publicized, state-sanctioned gay and lesbian marriages.
Meeting in a state that has legalized same-sex marriage is putting unique tension on the 2.3 million-member denomination. Those who want to extend greater rights to gays and lesbians are hoping that this week's gathering in San Jose will set the stage for change.
"Sadly enough, I think within my own denomination, the state has been a much more powerful witness than the church has," said Rev. W. Rob Martin III, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, which has welcomed and blessed same-sex couples for nearly 20 years. "It's my fervent hope that with movement in civil society my denomination will catch up with that."
Some of the push will come in the form of staged political action. Rev. Jane Spahr, who has been criticized and unsuccessfully tried in church courts for presiding over same-sex marriages, presided over a highly publicized civil wedding Friday in Marin County to draw attention to the issue.
Presbyterians argue roles of gays, lesbians San Francisco Chronicle
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