Abstract

VERMAAK, Roché F.. The polity debate regarding same-gender blessings and marriages in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Verbum Eccles. (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.31, n.1, pp.1-4. ISSN 2074-7705.  https://doi.org/10.4102/ve.v31i1.52.

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.

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