Constitutional committee calls same-sex union overture unneeded By John H. Adams The Layman Online Wednesday, June 7, 2000 The Advisory Committee on the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has deemed unnecessary an overture calling for changes in the Book of Order to prohibit same-sex unions because "Christian marriage is … the only form of personal union sanctioned by the Church." The nine-member advisory committee reviewed Overture 00-54 from the Presbytery of Charlotte and said the presbytery's proposed changes in the Book of Order are unnecessary because same-sex unions are already -- by inference -- prohibited by the Constitution. The review by the advisory committee was made before the General Assembly's Permanent Judicial Commission's ruling on May 22. Contrary to the advisory committee, the Permanent Judicial Commission said that blessing ceremonies for same-sex couples are not prohibited as long as they are not specifically identified as "marriages" or "unions." Committee's membership The advisory committee is comprised principally of former members of Presbyterian courts and stated clerks of presbyteries and synods. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk of the General Assembly, is a non-voting member. The committee reviews overtures on constitutional issues for commissioners to the General Assembly. The committee's interpretations are not binding. The Charlotte overture is one of three calling for constitutional changes that would explicitly forbid Presbyterian pastors from conducting same-sex blessing ceremonies. The advisory committee has not posted reviews of the other proposals. The advisory committee said the specific points covered by the Charlotte overture "are already covered by other portions of the Constitution," and, therefore, "the proposed amendment could be construed as unnecessary." 1991 interpretation cited Like the Presbyterian court's decision, the committee's review cites a 1991 General Assembly interpretation which allows same-sex unions as long as they are not considered marriages. The court's decision suggested that words such as "union" or "marriage" were inappropriate for blessing same-sex couples. But the Charlotte overture -- as well as the other two -- says a clear prohibition is needed. "We live in times of moral and ethical confusion, and the church needs to speak with a voice of clarity on these issues," the overture says. "Our traditional view of marriage is being threatened by the allowance of same gender unions in the Church and society. The only way to bring some resolution to this practice in the church is to make constitutional changes." While the denomination's top court says blessing couples of the same sex does not constitute marriage, gay activists -- and even some ministers who conduct the services -- describe them as marriage in the eyes of the participants.

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