The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (GAPJC) decision that the Rev. Jane Southard committed no offense when she conducted a same-gender wedding, had three concurring opinions, but no dissents.

While agreeing with the decision of the GAPJC, five members of the commission wrote a concurring opinion stating, “We are intensely troubled by the underlying issue – the marginalization of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people by the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). This issue is larger than the PCUSA. It is a human rights issue.

…”The PCUSA is Reformed and always being reformed. The constitution is contradictory in its language regarding the acceptance of our gay, lesbian, and bisexual brothers and sisters into the full fellowship of the church. … We urge the General Assembly to amend the constitution to allow for the marriage of same sex couples in the PCUSA, and otherwise welcome gay, lesbian, and bisexual people into the full fellowship of the church.”

The second concurring opinion took issue with the PCUSA’s definition of marriage found at W-4.9001…

“The church needs a sharper degree of clarification and guidance that precisely defines how it understands marriage, especially in light of the high financial and personal burden involved. Given the contention regarding the nature and practice of Christian marriage in our time, it would be important and valuable for the Church to state its definition in clearer and more precise legislation,” it stated.

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