The Beaver-Butler
Presbytery in Pennsylvania became the latest in the
Presbyterian Church (USA) to vote against an
amendment
that would allow gays and lesbians to be ordained as pastors,
elders, and deacons. Presbytery leaders in the western region
of the state voted 92-21 against the amendment on Tuesday.
All 173 presbyteries in
the United States are voting on the amendment, which requires
majority approval. The current tally of voting is 64
presbyteries against the amendment, and 41 in favor.
If approved, the
amendment would change the church constitutional law
that requires ministers to be married to a member of
the opposite sex, or to be single and live in chastity.
Several previous
attempts to change the law have failed, most recently in
2001.
Earlier this month the
Pittsburgh Presbytery, one of the largest in the world, voted
to reject the amendment. The church claims approximately 2.3
million members.