LOS ANGELES - A debate that has raged within the Presbyterian Church for more than three decades changed Tuesday with ratification of a measure allowing the ordination of gay and lesbian ministers.

The vote of Presbyterians in Minnesota meant that a majority of the presbyteries, the church's regional networks of congregation, have approved a change to the Book of Order, the church's constitution, that removes a prohibition inserted in 1997 banning gay and lesbian ministers.

The Presbyterian Church USA is the fourth mainline Protestant church to allow gay ordination, following the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran churches and the United Church of Christ. The PC (USA) is the first national church body to make the change through regional votes, rather than through the action of a bishop or executive council.

As of Thursday, the nation-wide presbytery tally was 88 yes, 63 no, with three ties, which count as a "no" vote in the church.

"This is an important moment in the Christian communion," said Michael Adee, a Presbyterian elder who heads More Light Presbyterians, an organization that fought for gay ordination. "I rejoice that Presbyterians are focusing on what matters most - faith and character, not a person's marital status or sexual orientation."

The change to the Presbyterian Church constitution was approved last summer by the church's General Assembly, its governing body. Both North Alabama and Middle Tennessee presbyteries have approved the amendment and are among the 19 presbyteries that switched their vote from "no" to "yes" since the 2009 vote.

It was the fourth time since 1997 that the church has voted on issues related to gay ordination.

Linda Fleming, an elder and deacon at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ladera Heights, which hosted the Pacific Presbytery meeting in Los Angeles, said she was among those who had changed her mind on the issue in recent years.

"I finally decided at the age of 63 that it is inevitable," she said. "I think it's like letting black people come to white churches, or letting women become ministers. It's inevitable."

The new amendment reflects the church's historic ordination standards and require church officials to examine "each candidate's calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office." That gives enough leeway that even the amendment's advocates say it is likely to mean that more conservative presbyteries will continue to deny ordination to gays and lesbians.

People on both sides of the issue predicted that the vote would lead some churches to leave the denomination, while others might seek more compatible presbyteries within the existing structure.

By Mitchell Landsberg for the Los Angeles Times with editing and local information added by The Huntsville Times Faith & Values editor Kay Campbell.

Divided? The Church has been there before.

By the Rev. Warner Durnell, executive presbyter serving the Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations of North Alabama. wdurnell@napresbytery.org.

By the time you find yourself reading this news, its contents my well be "old news" to you. On Tuesday, the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area became the 87th presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (USA) to approve Book of Order Amendment 10-A, which removes the constitutional requirement that all ministers, elders and deacons live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness" (G-6.0106b).

Thus with their vote, a majority of the 173 presbyteries of the PCUSA have approved this change in our ordination standards. The new language reads in part, "Standards for ordained service reflect the church's desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life."

This change in language still retains the long-held right and responsibility of ordaining bodies (local church sessions for deacons and elders or presbyteries for ministers) to determine suitability of each candidate for ordination. However, in all honesty, this change now opens up the possibility and probability that persons in same-gender monogamous relationships may be considered for ordination by a number of congregations and presbyteries moving forward.

This change will take effect July 10, one full year after the adjournment of the General Assembly Meeting of the PCUSA that initially approved Amendment 10-A.

"Reactions to this change will span a wide spectrum," wrote the Rev. Gradye Parsons, the stated clerk of the General Assembly, in an open letter to the denomination. "Some will rejoice, while others will weep. Those who rejoice will see the change as an action, long in coming, that makes the PCUSA an inclusive church. ... Those who weep will consider this change one that compromises biblical authority and acquiesces to present culture."

Whether you are among those who celebrate this change or among those who decry it, the church has acted and we are called to live into this new way with humility and forbearance.

My hope and prayer is that we here in North Alabama Presbytery will remember that we have been here before! Divided opinions and votes on key theological, social, moral issues have confronted the church throughout its 2,000-year history, and the church still stands.

We have been here before: From the question of requiring circumcision of Gentile believers in the first century to ordaining women called to pastor in the 20th century, the church has struggled to discern the will of God and to live into it faithfully.

This is yet another such time. May we in this present age live as faithfully as we are given the grace, seeking to serve Jesus whom we all adore!

Vote violates biblical teaching

By Rev. Mark A. Looyenga, associate pastor of adult discipleship at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 301 Drake Ave. S.E. Mark.Looyenga@covhsv.org.

Editor's note: The Rev. Mark A. Looyenga made this statement to the North Alabama Presbytery during the February 2009 vote that had to do with gay ordination. This week, Looyenga gave us permission to reprint this as an accurate reflection of his, and many, Presbyterians' view of the issue of gay ordination.

Background: 'Fidelity in marriage or chastity in singleness' is the section of the ordination requirement that this year's vote removed from the Book of Order, the Presbyterian constitution, lifting the church's official barrier to ordination of gay ministers who are in a committed relationship.

Striking the fidelity and chastity clause from the Book of Order is at its foundation about our view of marriage.

It's not about the heart someone has to serve God, nor is it about their ability to do so; it's foundationally about our view of marriage.

From Genesis to Jesus to Paul - from cover to cover - the Bible puts forth marriage as a gift from God, as a covenant between a man and a woman, and as an image of Christ's relationship with his church. I was therefore so encouraged by the 2008 General Assembly's affirmation of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman.

The fact that the recent GA also voted to remove the fidelity and chastity clause from the Book of Order, however, demonstrates a great contradiction in our thinking to me.

Marriage, between a man and a woman, is the covenant within which sexual union is ordained by God. That means any other sexual union is sin, including that of both heterosexuals and homosexuals who have monogamous relationships outside of marriage.

To approve this change to the book of order means more than just trying to be accepting of others; it means more than just clearing the way for a group of people to be ordained. It means disregarding the witness of Scripture about marriage. It means, practically speaking, redefining marriage.

For this reason, I am against this change to the Book of Order.