Gay Minister Amendment
Lags in Voting

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.