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Verbum et Ecclesia

On-line version ISSN 2074-7705
Print version ISSN 1609-9982

Verbum Eccles. (Online) vol.31 n.1 Pretoria  2010

http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/ve.v31i1.52 

ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

 The polity debate regarding same-gender blessings and marriages in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

 

 

Roché F. Vermaak

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Brentwood Presbyterian Church, Los Angeles, USA

Correspondence

 

 


ABSTRACT

This paper will examine how the decision made by the Presbyterian Church in 1927 - to use polity rather than theology to solve its theological issues - has guided the same-gender blessing and marriage debate since the 1980s. The paper summarises the formation process of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s polity regarding same-gender blessing and marriage ceremonies in light of General Assemblies' decisions and General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commissions' ecclesiastical rulings.

Keywords: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.); General Assembly; General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission; same-gender blessing and marriage; W-4.9001, the Book of Order; Special Commission of 1925


 

 

Full text available only in PDF format.

 

 

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Correspondence:
Roché Vermaak
2512, 28th Street, Apt 101
Santa Monica
CA, 90405
USA
Email: vermaak@verizon.net

Received: 09 July 2009
Accepted: 23 Apr. 2010 
Published: 23 Sept. 2010

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