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

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.